A LARGE proportion of the City of Whittlesea’s cricket teams are involved in games that will go right down to the wire when the second day of matches returns on Saturday.
South Morang’s match with Laurimar was a highlight in Dyson Shield at Mill Park Lakes, with the Lions needed a further 106 runs, but with only seven wickets in hand as 13 wickets fell on a dramatic first day.
The Power batted first, making a solid enough start to make 21 for the first wicket before Abhi Patel holed out for 17.
Wickets soon fell at a dramatic rate for the Power, with Luke Richardson, Coby Key, Andy Evans and David Sinclair soon falling, with the Power losing 5/27 as they fell to 5/48.
It didn’t look much better when Harry McKeown, Joel Regan and Jayden Clifford also all fell for single-digit scores, leaving the Power wanting at 8/79.
However, Justin Billing was a constant. The Power youngster would end up carrying his bat throughout the innings and put together a handy 36-run partnership with fellow impressive youngster Cooper Lewin, who made 16, to help the Power pass 100.
Eventually, the Power rolled for 129, with Billing unbeaten on 67.
For the Lions, Theiveekan Theivanesan and Bailey Arnot took three wickets apiece in a marathon effort, with Theivanesan bowling 28 overs and Arnot 21 of Laurimar’s 66-over innings.
The Lions had to negotiate 13 overs to end the day and it was a wild ride.
Adam Huybers and Shawn Lindsay White were both bowled by Clifford, before Lachlan Gatherer was also bowled by Lewin.
Rohin Sidhu negotiated 42 deliveries to end day one on 12, while Karl Heckmann will start on two.
Clifford has 2/15 off seven overs, while Lewin has 1/2.
In Money Shield, Mernda has a terrific platform to attack early frontrunners Research Eltham Collegians, scoring 5/229 on the first day at Research Park.
The Demons had Max Russell and Nathan Aston to thank for a marathon 135-run stand, helping rescue the Demons from 4/66.
Lucas Long put together a good knock early in the piece to score 30, while Stuart Wright added 22, but it was Russell’s 74 and Nathan Aston’s dynamic innings of 75, which included six fours and five sixes, which allowed the Demons to make hay while the sun shined.
Whittlesea’s F grade game is in the balance against Mernda at Waterview Recreation Reserve.
The Demons batted first, with Jackson Bellingham scoring 21 and Rob Corrigan scoring 20 to provide some anchoring while wickets fell around them, before Vikas Kakkar and Chase Kinash scored 35 apiece to help the Demons eventually make 186.
Chandrasiri Wanigapurage took 3/26 off nine overs, while Kevin Satharasinghege Don and Binith Jayasinghe took two wickets apiece.
The Eagles got off to a slow start, losing Mohamed Isam Rafeek and Isuru Jayasekara very early in the piece, before Nathan Heaney and Don saw out the day. Don will start on 10 runs, while Heaney played an incredibly defensive affair to remain scoreless after 30 deliveries, playing his role to help see the Eagles out to stumps.
In the North Metro Cricket Association competition, Laurimar’s women’s first XI took a comfortable 53-run victory over Fairfield, scoring 8/160 to 7/107.
No batting or bowling statistics were registered prior to production.
Laurimar’s second XI was also successful, chasing down Macleod’s 136 to win by six wickets.
Alaina Demiris took 2/19 and affected a runout, while Ann O’Gorman was also crucial with ball in hand, taking 2/3 off two overs.
Ally Eaton then scored 27, Toni Rule 19 and Sophia Hrysoulakis 16 to help Laurimar score 4/143 in response off 27 overs.
