by Samuel Laffy
Neerim District (6/195) def. Buln Buln (167)
Neerim District kept touch with the top four in division two as they headed into the mid-season break on a high, taking out a 28-run win over Buln Buln.

Batting first, the Stags made their way to 6/195 at the conclusion of their allotted overs, with Rhys George's brilliant century the highlight of the innings.
No other batter was able to make it past 19 – scored by Dane Fawcett at the top of the order – but such was George's domination that it didn't matter.
He carefully chose when to defend and when to up the ante, and his 103 was one of the more impressive knocks compiled by a Neerim District player in recent memory.
The Lyrebirds made a good fist of their pursuit and for much of their innings looked as though they might be successful in reaching their target. But some quality bowling from Matt Kelliher (2/20), Justin Lockett (2/25), and Wil Tomlin (2/45) ensured that regular breakthroughs stymied Buln's progress, and they were eventually dismissed for 167 in the 37th over.
Drouin (8/135) def. Warragul (9/118)
John Perry and Upinder Taggar proved far too effective with ball in hand for Warragul's middle and lower order, and the duo's wicket-taking ways helped Drouin notch an 18-run win in their round nine clash – the first victory for the club in the 2024/25 season.
Greg Interlandi (34) and Matthew Wakefield (25*) did their level best to successfully chase down the Hawks' target of 8/135, but Perry (3/20 from 8) and Taggar (3/25 off 8) maintained a consistent line-and-length approach that made shot-making a risky endeavour.
It meant that Warragul's attempts to increase their scoring ended dismally, able only to eke out 9/118 from their 40 overs.
Earlier in the day, Paul Timewell (39, including five boundaries) and Perry (who scampered his way to 25) were able to help the Hawks post their eventual winning total. Patrick Mulqueen (2/13 from 8) was the pick of the bowlers for Warragul.
Garfield-Tynong (6/191) def. Jindivick (160)
A 90-run opening stand between Matt Dodman and Jake Van Den Berghe was the catalyst for Garfield-Tynong's 31-run win over Jindivick, with the duo helping blunt the wicket-taking ambitions of the Jumping Jacks' attack.
Jordan Smith (0/12 from 8, including four maidens) and Shayne Gillings (0/21 off 6) were able to stymie the Titans' run-scoring early and would no doubt have been optimistic that their tidy spells would result in scalps.
However, Dodman (59) and Van Den Berghe (38) were able to absorb the pressure and then counter-attack against the rest of the Jindivick bowlers.
Kasun Ranasinghe (46 from 38 balls) and Matthew Bow (21*) were able to continue to score freely once the Garfield-Tynong opening pair were eventually removed and helped the total through to 6/191 at the conclusion of 40 overs.
In reply, Bob Wilkinson (43) and Gillings (27 off 26) looked to match the exploits of their opponents, but as the required run rate rose so did the need for more extravagant strokeplay.
Brayden Ridler (4/34) and Ryan Smith (3/31) were able to reap the benefits as the Jumping Jacks were dismissed for 160 in the 39th over.
Western Park (4/292) def. Yarragon (22)
Western Park put together one of the more dominant displays seen in the history of division two, with their 270-run win consigning Yarragon to another disappointing afternoon.
Batting first, the Warriors comprehensively put the Panthers' bowlers to the sword, blasting 4/292 from their 40 overs.
Tyler McMillan set the tone for the onslaught with a boundary-laden 53 opening up, as Matt Jones (46 from just 32 balls) and Alex Gavin (40* from just 25) continued the assault late in the piece.
However, by far the most impressive knock was from Henry Allsop, with the 15-year-old proving he's one to keep an eye on in the coming years, posting a wonderful 126*.
Pacing his innings to perfection – and manipulating the field with careful shot selection and placement – Allsop's run-a-ball knock perfectly encapsulated the idea of intelligent batting.
The pick of the bowlers for Yarragon was Lachlan McNamara, who delivered an excellent eight-over spell, snaring 2/44.
Facing such a large chase, the best that Yarragon could have hoped for was to make their opponents work hard for their wickets and keep Western Park in the field as long as possible.
However, Jack Walsh (6/10 from 8) and Tom Fawcett (4/11 off 8) ran riot with the new ball and bundled the Panthers out for just 22, with none of the batters able to defy the pace and seam movement of the Warriors duo.