Cricket Southern Bayside: Mentone openers Simon Cormie and Matt Walker star in victory

Blazing batting and a teenager’s star turn secured a vital win for Mentone in Cricket Southern Bayside, while a young spinner fired Bonbeach to victory.

Simon Cormie hits long on his way to 88 for Mentone against Hampton on Saturday. Picture: Josh Chadwick

It was the spark Mentone needed to ignite its season.

After a couple of washouts and a stinging defeat, the Tigers were hungry for a win when they were sent into bat by Hampton at the expansive Boss James Reserve on Saturday.

Mentone openers Simon Cormie and Matt Walker responded with a run-a-ball 176-run partnership.

Cormie made 88 off 108 balls, with 9 fours, and left-handed Walker 84 off 73 deliveries, with 11 fours.

Their blazing start, and a quick-fire 28 off 20 by skipper Dane Heverin, helped the Tigers to 6-241 off their 40 overs.

Matthew Walker.

Simon Cormie. Pictures: Josh Chadwick

Heverin said the Cormie-Walker stand was a treat to watch.

“They batted so well, it was just the perfect platform,” he said.

“It’s such a big ground there at Boss James, they just batted really smart, hit gaps, it would race away for four when they hit them well but obviously a big ground like that there’s just so much room in the inner ring they were just dropping and running so much, rotating strike. It was fantastic.”

Heverin added: “Simon, that’s the way he bats.

“Walks was impressive because he’s a very powerful player and he reined that in yesterday and just played to the conditions.”

Whack: Dane Heverin belts a six. Picture: Josh Chadwick

When it came to defending the total, Mentone’s bowlers executed well, combining to dismiss Hampton for 158 in 37.1 overs.

Walker capped off a great game with 4-35 off eight overs, while 16-year-old Oliver Donat took 3-20 off 5.1 overs, including his first top-grade wicket.

Heverin said Donat’s display was impressive.

“He came on and bowled down wind, took three wickets, got their opener, got their number four out and bowled really, really well,” Heverin said.

“He captained our under 16s last season, they won the flag. He won the bowling award in the seconds last year and had a really good pre season.

“He had a baptism of fire last week with the guys from Mordialloc going flat out but he held his nerve. And yesterday he bowled really well.’’

Bonbeach tweaker Jamie Matheson. Picture: Valeriu Campan

In other games:

*Bonbeach spinner Jamie Matheson picked up six wickets to help shoot out Bentleigh for 129 and set up a convincing win for the Sharks. The left-armer grabbed 6-26 off 7.4 overs, including the big scalps of Matthew Chasemore (18) and skipper Jarrad Dowling (7). In reply, Bonbeach opener Bryce O’Connor blasted 51 off 46 balls, with support from Ollie Sutton (26) and Ab Das (16) as the Sharks achieved victory with nine overs and five wickets to spare, finishing 5-130.

*Mordialloc shot out St Brigid’s St Louis for 90 in 23 overs to set up a resounding five-wicket victory. Mordi’s bowlers shared the wickets — Insaf Iqbal (2-19), Jordan Barden (2-21), Ravindu Chamalka Kankanamgamage Don (2-5) and Aaron Davies (2-28). In reply, Brendan Morris (26) and Damith Mapa (25no) were in the runs as Mordialloc reached 5-94 in the 19th over.

*Adam Bull (53), Ian Cockbain (59) and Nick Ritchie (52) set up Beaumaris’ win over South Caulfield. Batting first, the Sharks put up 7-193 off their 40 overs, with Cockbain and Ritchie sharing an 86-run fourth wicket partnership. In reply, South Caulfield slumped to 5-41 before recovering to make 8-145. James Boyle top scored with 27 off 31 balls, while Beaumaris opening bowler Tom Mellick grabbed 3-19.