• Berwick Gazette
• Pakenham Gazette

By Julian Bayard

3rd February 2010 02:00:08 AM

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AN undefeated century from Pakenham Upper/Toomuc’s (PUT) Chris Smith saw the Yabbies topple Officer in a match that could define this season’s top four.

With the Bullants sitting in third position prior to the start of round 11, a win against fifth-placed PUT would have seen them rise two games clear of the Yabbies, seemingly guaranteeing them a finals position.

However, with 266 runs to defend, the Officer attack had no answers to the class of Smith and his team-mates.

Resuming at 1/14 at the start of the day’s play, the home side immediately lost the wickets of both Andrew Hilder and captain Andrew Cooper to be in early trouble.

However, 66 runs from opening batsman Darren Warne, who was playing in his first match of the season for the Yabbies, and a blistering 114 not out from Smith consolidated the run chase.

Shannon Price then chimed in with a well-made 29 runs to see his side to a fantastic victory.

The win sees PUT and Officer now on equal points on the Premier Division ladder, and with three rounds left to play, the loss may come back to haunt the Bullants.

At Perc Allison Reserve, it was once again a case of the Beaconsfield batting line-up not being able to support the batting talents of Brad Miles, with the Tigers falling short of Tooradin’s total by 54 runs, despite a blistering knock of 115 from the left-hander.

Seven Beaconsfield batsmen failed to reach double figures against the Seagulls, with Aaron Avery (4/14 from eight overs) and Ashley Adams (3/18 from 5.2 overs) tearing through the Tigers’ innings.

For Miles, his 115 runs at number three once again brought about no reward for his side, after his 59 not out last match against Cardinia resulted in a batting total of just 118.

Ryan O’Connor did his bit for the Tigers with 42 runs, however, a vastly improved effort with the bat will be required if they are to make up the one-and-a-half game deficit between itself and fourth position over the course of the last three rounds.

Cardinia remains in equal-top position on the Premier Division ladder after it was able to restrict Catani to 253 at Catani Recreation Reserve, with the Blues’ total falling short of the visitors’ 314.

In another solid batting display from the home side, seven Catani batsmen managed to score between 20 and 50 runs, however, as has been the case on several occasions this season, no player was able to go on and make a big, match-winning total.

Brad McDonald was the best of the Blues’ batsmen with 49 runs, while Luke McFarlane, Craig Stone, Lionel Sexton and Nic Close all made starts.

With matches against Tooradin, PUT and Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll to come, Catani must come up with at least one victory to avoid relegation to the District Division next season.

Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll produced a brave batting performance against Kooweerup to score 238 from 62 overs, with the daunting Demons’ total of 414 proving to be too difficult to chase down.

Both Daniel Glen and Noel O’Brien scored half-centuries for the Marygoons, before an inspired spell of bowling from Chris O’Hara wrapped up the match.

After bowling just seven overs prior to round 11, O’Hara sent down five of the best to take 4/17 – the final four wickets of the innings. Next week will see the match of the season between Cardinia and Kooweer-up in a one-day match that will decide the minor-premiership in the Premier Division of the West Gippsland Cricket Association (WGCA).

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