by Samuel Laffy
Iona (4/109) vs Longwarry (9/92)
Needing to win to ensure they kept touch with the top four, Iona enjoyed a stunning day against Longwarry, the Swamp Tigers already claiming first-innings points against the Crows.
William Davis – who has impressed enough to snare a division one cap this summer – was the catalyst for Iona with ball in hand.
His stump-to-stump approach forced the Longwarry batters to attempt shots they normally wouldn't, with regular scalps the result.
Only Ali Sarosh (24) and Jesse La Frantz (23) were able to settle at the crease as Davis (6/49 from 19) went about his way.
Brayden Hoskins (2/5 from 5) and Sam Accardi (1/124 off 14) provided tremendous support and helped bundle the Crows out for 92 in the 39th over.
Hoskins (50*) then notched an excellent half century to rapidly propel the Swamp Tigers to victory, with his ability to find the boundary a feature.
Daniel Waite (2/33) and Cole Cook (2/22) did their best to induce mistakes from the rest of the Ionan batters, but they couldn't prevent them from reaching 4/109 at stumps.
Warragul (169) vs Catani (0/7)
Contrasting half centuries from Amandeep Singh and Nathan Peake helped Warragul post an encouraging total against Catani on Saturday, with the Gulls providing themselves with every chance of an upset win over the Cats.
Singh – as is his wont – attacked from the get-go, slashing the ball powerfully through cover-point, and punishing anything pitched too straight, striking seven boundaries in his 60-ball 50.
Peake on the other hand was watchful in defence, patiently waiting for his chance to work singles and twos.
A picture of concentration, his 171-ball 54 ensured Warragul kept their opponents in the field for almost the entire afternoon – the Gulls dismissed for 169 in the 63rd over.
Bailey Sporish (5/43 from 22) made the most of his opportunities against the middle and lower order, whilst Nathaniel Wade (3/47 off 9.5) provided excellent support.
Left with four overs before stumps, Catani safely made their way to 0/7 at stumps.
Western Park (6/277) vs Ellinbank
The lush Ellinbank outfield – which is a sentence rarely typed in WDCA coverage – meant that reaching the boundary required extravagant effort, but Western Park were still able to post an impressive first-innings total against the Eagles, with the Warriors well and truly on top in their clash.
Dale Fawcett- as he tends to do – set about stamping his authority over the Ellinbank bowlers, and the short straight boundaries lit up his eyes as he made a run-a-ball 44.
At the same time Ed Dieu (who overcame several strokes of fortune to make 32) and Marc Fleming (who carried his division four form into a higher grade on his way to an exquisite 56) were able to capitalise on Western Park's early advantage.
Harmanpreet Singh (2/59 from 19) and Brayden Rintoule (1/15 off 7) challenged with the ball, but Rintoule's unexpected early departure from the encounter meant his teammates were forced into greater roles – and the Warriors made the most of this.
Jack Allen – who was dropped on 0 off one of the easiest chances you're likely to see – shrugged off his rare case of extended jetlag to notch 57*, and together with Andrew Thompson (who didn't let his recent national TV appearance disrupt his flow on his way to 35) helped propel Western Park to 5/277 at stumps.
Hallora (7/338) vs Trafalgar
On paper, Hallora's round 12 top-of-the-table clash with Trafalgar was deemed by almost all WDCA faithful to likely be a close contest.
But the Kangaroos ensured the Ships toiled in the field on Saturday as they posted a fearsome first innings.
The Trafalgar Recreation Reserve is a batter's paradise currently with nary a blade of grass on the outfield, and the Halloran line-up took full toll.
Daniel Reiner (48 from just 44) was aggressive early, and his intent was initially matched – and then exceeded – by Lachlan Pratt, who notched his second century of the summer.
Whilst he didn't find the boundary with the regularity of his teammates, the talented youngster nonetheless demonstrated a keen ability to work the ball into gaps, forcing changes in the field from the opposing captain and then punishing them for doing so.
With Ed Lemmon (61) and Jonno Whelan (a belligerent 64-ball 80) showcasing their talents, Pratt (who eventually finished with a masterful 122* from 149 balls) lifted Hallora to 7/338 at the conclusion of their 70 overs.
Teilor Woolford (2/29 from 10) and Callum Walton (1/53 off 13) did their best to stymie scoring, but their Trafalgan teammates found it nigh on impossible to match their efforts.