Cricket Southern Bayside: Bentleigh blitz as Brendan Drew tees-off with 97no

A former Tasmanian all-rounder launched a spectacular batting blitz for Bentleigh while South Caulfield, Mordialloc and Bonbeach also scored impressive wins in Cricket Southern Bayside.

Brendan Drew celebrates a wicket for Tasmania back in his first-class cricket days.

It was a boundary barrage at Bentleigh on Saturday.

Forty fours and 13 sixes made for an entertaining one-dayer between Cricket Southern Bayside heavyweights Bentleigh and Beaumaris in Round 5 of Championship division.

Big-hitting Brendan Drew smashed an unbeaten 97 off 75 balls to fire Bentleigh to victory with seven wickets and 21 balls to spare.

The former Tasmanian paceman put away 9 fours and 6 sixes after going in at 2-49.

He shared an unconquered 136-run fourth wicket partnership with former Victorian Premier Cricket star Matthew Chasemore, the pair taking the score from 3-76 to 3-212, and victory in the 37th over.

Chasemore played the anchor role with 42 not out off 63 balls although he did give a reminder of his power game, thumping two big sixes.

Bentleigh opener Ben Seabrook also impressed, making 49 off 52 balls, with 7 fours and 1 six.

Earlier, Beaumaris put up 4-207, with openers Adam Bull (24) and Ian Cockbain (27) putting on 50 before Sam Coates (43), Nick Ritchie (69no) and Jon Leadbeater (29no) impressing. Jake La Brooy nabbed 2-20 for Bentleigh.

Clinton Young of Hampton bowls. Picture: Josh Chadwick

In other games:

*Mordialloc’s Aaron Davies captured 4-32 and Jordan Barden 3-19 to set up the Bloodhounds’ gripping two-wicket win over Hampton. Hampton was dismissed for 158 before Mordialloc clawed its way to 8-161 with two balls remaining, with Michael Clavin (9no) and Barden (3no) guiding it to victory. Mordialloc opener Helitha Withanage continued his bright form top-scoring with 39, while Davies made a vital 29. For Hampton, skipper Shea Gribben snared 2-23, while Louis McAsey (2-53) and Freddie Smith (2-17) also struck.

Bonbeach’s George Darwood. Picture: Andy Brownbill

*Bonbeach squeaked home against Mentone in a see-sawing affair at Hogben/Meckiff Oval. Sharks captain Tom Smith snared 3-15 off 8 overs to help dismiss Mentone for 145 in the 36th over. Ed McGarry (40) and Cal Fryer (31) did best for the Tigers. In reply, Bonbeach got there with an over to spare making 7-147 off 39 overs, with George Darwood (17no) and Robbie Lancaster (8no off 4 balls) there at the end. Ollie Sutton scored a match-winning 52 off 72 balls for Bonbeach.

*At Princes Park, South Caulfield’s top order piled on the runs to set up victory over St Brigid’s St Louis. Brad Erasmus cracked 95 off 102 balls, with 6 fours and 2 sixes, and shared a 57-run opening stand with James Boyle, who set the scene with a blazing 33 off 23 balls, including 3 sixes. South skipper Will Russell joined Erasmus and the pair put on 145 to take the score to 2-202. Russell made 70 off 83 balls, with 5 fours and 1 six, as South Caulfield finished on 7-241. In reply, St Brigid’s St Louis rushed to 1-113, with George Hankins (45 off 40 balls) and Mark Jamieson (55 off 54) batting with intent. Liam Harris (39) and Jeremy Heys (29) kept the run chase on target but the visitors ran out of time, finishing 8-218. Kaz Szymanski (2-34), Kanishka Alvitigala (2-33) and Jonathon Curtis (2-27) shared the wickets for 3-1 South Caulfield.