AROUND THE GROUNDS: LEIGH COOKS UP A STORM FOR BEARS IN DIVISION 3
By Richard Millott
Division 3 action saw all hosts register wins, with The Basin registering their win over Upper Ferntree Gully thanks to a century from Leigh Cook. Cook’s 102 formed the backbone of The Basin’s 9/240, seeing off the challenge from the Kings who were dismissed for 160, despite the best efforts of Byron Rickard with 90. Elsewhere in Division 3, Knoxfield passed Ferntree Gully Footballers total of 112 without loss, with other victors being Eildon Park, Upwey and Lysterfield.
Steve Oudshoorn turned out a performance to remember for Rowville against St Johns Tecoma in Division 4, claiming 6/24 including a Hatrick. Rowville’s 176 target looked in danger with the Saints at 3/146, before Oudshoorn and co struck to claim 7 wickets for 4 runs to conclude the innings. Rowville joined Knox Gardens, Olinda and Knox-Boronia Churches on the winner’s list for Round 1.
Craig Obrien led the way for Knox City in their Division 5 assignment against Knoxfield, producing an unbeaten 70 as part of the Tiger’s 3/115 to chase down the Knight’s 7/109. Ferntree Gully opener Mario Catalano carried the bat to finish on 60 not out in the Blues chase of Eildon Park’s 5/117. Meanwhile Upwey saw off Knox Boronia Churches, and Lysterfield accounting for The Basin at Park Ridge Reserve.
Jason Simmonds became the first retiree with the bat in Division 6 for the season as Monbulk claimed the points against Upper Ferntree Gully. The Hawks scored 5/246 from their overs, with a restrictive team effort keeping the Kings to 7/125. A number of starts for the Falcons saw a competitive total for Knox Gardens against Mountain Gate, with 8/204 from the Falcons too much to reel in for a young Gator side. Johnson Park, Rowville and Olinda scored wins against their respective opponents to start the season on the right foot.
In Division 7, Upper Ferntree Gully’s Zac Zaloumis lead the way for the Kings against Johnson Park, with his 84 the key to the total of 5/220. 4 Kings bowlers claimed multiple wickets to keep the Sharks to 110, with Kanwaldeep Singh the highest scorer with 54. Elsewhere Lysterfield accounted for Eildon Park, Knoxfield defeated Rowville and The Basin defeated Ferntree Gully at the back of Batterham Reserve.
Division 8 action saw St Johns Tecoma celebrated a big win over Monbulk, with Anthony Chandler contributing 52 to the Saints total of 5/231, before restricting the Hawks to 43 in reply. Olinda saw victory over Upwey at Kalorama, whilst Belgrave proved too good for Ferntree Gully Footballers. Ferntree Gully and Upper Ferntree Gully will return to the field for this week’s matches following a forfeit result.
In representative duties, Tess Flintoff made her open-age debut for Victoria in a state camp last month, with the talented Knox Gardens protégé taking the crease against some of the country’s best. Rowville’s Darren Hill made an impression for Victoria’s Over 50s Veterans Team in the Australian Championships in Brisbane this week, scoring 159 from 73 balls in Monday’s match against Western Australia, backing up from Sunday’s 40 retired against ACT. Hill now finds himself in the selector’s minds for the Australian Squad ahead of the Over 50s Cricket World Cup in Sydney in late November. And FTG Footballers Under 12 player Kody Taylor has been selected as part of the SSV Under 12 squad, with the talented leg spinner to represent Victoria at the National Carnival held in Bunbury, WA in December.
