Clyde is in the box seat to get back on the winner’s list with the Cougars in a commanding position against Officer on day one in round seven of the Casey Cardinia Cricket Association (CCCA) Premier Division.
Clyde opted to take the ball after winning the toss, a decision that paid dividends when Max Adams was able to dismiss the dangerous Bill Carlyle for 20, pushing the Bullants to 1/33.
Skipper Cooper Pursell has recently been promoted to the top of the order and fought well, but fell for 29 courtesy of Brett Reid.
Two balls later, Reid caught Nick McLennan off his own bowling, followed by trapping Ash Smith in front the next delivery, giving Reid three wickets in four balls.
A third consecutive duck came a few overs later when Chandrika Wathukarage danced down the pitch, but missed, Yashan Gunasinghage’s quick glovework completing the stumping.
Jack James held on for 21, before he became Reid’s fourth victim when the experienced all-rounder knocked him over.
From there, only two more Officer bats managed double figures and the Bullants were rolled for 108 after 46.4 overs.
Reid’s four-wicket haul was backed up by three poles from Luke Kerford.
The Cougars were incredibly patient and cautious in the remaining day’s play, batting out 19 overs for just 29 runs.
The Bullants bowled 11 maidens but will need to break through on day two with Trevor Bauer and Kane Avard both unbeaten on 13 and the hosts at 0/29 at stumps.
Tooradin is in pursuit of an outright result as the Seagulls ran rampant on Upper Beaconsfield at Rutter Park.
Billy Williams (15) was the only Maroon in double figures in the first innings even after Upper Beaconsfield won the toss and chose the crease.
Bailey Lownds (3/22) and Josh Lownds (3/9) did a lot of the damage early, before Russell Lehman (4/10) carved open the lower order.
After 35 overs, the visitors were knocked over for 51 before Josh Lownds and Cal O’Hare got to work.
Lownds blasted his way to 47 not out off 35 balls, including six boundaries, while O’Hare comfortably batted to 34 not out from 31 deliveries.
The hosts declared at 0/82 after just 11 overs, sending the deflated Upper Beaconsfield outfit back in to bat.
In the day’s remaining 17 overs, the Maroons stumbled to 1/17 with their only loss being Josh Westra (5) when he was trapped in front by Bailey Lownds.
Currently, the visitors look to stave off giving Tooradin the extra points with Dominic Evans (11 not out) and Ben Amos (1 not out) in the middle.
A captain’s knock from Jack Anning salvaged Pakenham’s innings away against Kooweerup.
The visitors were 2/63 after Zach Flaxman (0) and Jackson Luka (29) were dismissed, before Imesh Jayasekara turned things around by posting a half century.
He was then trapped in front by Cooper Davey for 54, and a small collapse started for the Lions.
There was elite glovework behind the stumps from Chris Bright, while Charith Keerthisinghe bowled wonderfully to ramp up the pressure.
Dom Paynter (5) snicked off, then Mitch Varty (14) was caught out of his crease and stumped.
Another wicket tumbled when Marcus Martini (12) hit it right back to Keerthisinghe to suddenly put Pakenham at 6/128.
But Anning stayed calm, building himself an innings by batting smart and safe.
He showed immense grit, trudging his way to 50 not out from 103 balls.
James Close added a handy 23 in the tail before he was bowled by Jess Mathers and the Lions posted 8/203.
Keerthisinghe’s spell was simply brilliant as the spinner finished with 5/46 from 28 overs, including 11 maidens.
The Demons chase 204 for victory on day two.
