Warragul and District Cricket Association: Batson, Perry and Serong star in season start
Cricket got underway in the south east on Saturday as players padded up, strapped on face masks and did battle in the opening round of the Warragul and District Cricket Association’s COVID Cup. There were several match-winning displays.
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Premier Cricket young guns Sam Batson, Ben Perry and Jonah Serong stamped their class on the Warragul cricket association’s COVID Cup on Saturday.
Batson, who played for Frankston Peninsula in the Vic Super Slam last season, made 51 not out to guide Western Park to a five-wicket victory over Drouin in the A-grade game at Warragul Country Club.
Blasting two sixes and a boundary, he propelled the Parkers (5-142 off 34.3 overs) past Drouin’s 6-141 with 33 balls to spare in the 40-over game.
Batson went head-to-head with Casey-South Melbourne paceman Nathan Lambden, who opened the bowling for Drouin, taking 1-42 off 6.3 overs.
At Longwarry Reserve, former Casey-South Melbourne batsman Perry batted through the innings to score a polished 81 not out and steer the Crows (8-154) to victory over Neerim District (9-152).
Earlier, Casey-South Melbourne spinner Serong captured 2-20 off seven overs in an impressive display for Longwarry, which also included Pearcedale captain-coach Shayne Gillings (1-16 off seven overs).
Neerim District captain Nathan Bayne (52) and Rhys George (33) gave their side a good start with a 67-run opening stand.
In other highlights, Iona opener Graeme Rankin missed a century by a whisker when he was bowled for 99 against Warragul in C-grade.
A dozen Casey-South Melbourne players are playing in the Warragul competition in preparation for the Premier Cricket season.
Swans batsman-keeper Devin Pollock played for Buln Buln against Yarragon and said the COVID protocols made playing “a bit different’’.
“You take a wicket and you’re still allowed to hang on to the ball, the umpires don’t really want to have anything to do with it,’’ Pollock said.
“It was a bit different but everyone’s happy to do it if it means we get to play. I think they had to wipe it down every 40 minutes.
“Celebrating wickets and trying to keep the contact to a minimum – for the most part people were able to follow that.’’
Pollock said everyone was just happy to be out there playing.
“Absolutely. We’ve spent the last six months not being able to do anything so getting out to play was fantastic,’’ he said.
“Everyone was excited to be out and about doing stuff and being together.
“We haven’t had too much of a chance to do that over the past six months. Very exciting.’’
WDCA president Michael Neilson said the opening day of the season went off without a hitch as players and umpires adhered to the COVID measures.
A total of 23 teams played in four grades. Only players living in regional areas were allowed to play.
Neilson wasn’t able to attend games because he lives in Bunyip, which is in Cardinia Shire and regarded as metropolitan.
“I’m not allowed there except for work,’’ he said.
“The silly thing is I’m there for work every single day – we cart milk all around from Gippsland to Melbourne every day – but theoretically I’m not even allowed to sit in the car and watch the cricket.
“It’s a bit of a shame. I get that they‘ve got rules and they’ve got to draw a line somewhere.
“A lot of people around our area are unhappy being called metro – we are all unhappy about that.
“But once again I understand that they do have to draw a line somewhere. But it does seem funny when you are out in the middle of a 30 acre paddock and you’re being called metro.’’
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