Former state player still has what it takes

By Iain Harley
THE bowlers struck back and dominated the bat on day two of the third round of Knox Tavern Cup at the weekend.
Former Victorian player Paul Wilson took 7/36 as Upwey routed Mountain Gate for 83 in their reply to the Tigers 194.
Wilson and Leigh Bianchi cleaned up with the ball in what will be Wilson’s final season.
A stronger showing in their second innings saw the ’Gators finish the day on 6/165. Upwey now has two wins on the board and will face Eildon Park next week.
At Talaskia, Lysterfield spinner Chris Hill mesmerised the Saints, also taking 7/36 to knock any fight out of the St Johns Tecoma side. The Beavers grabbed their first points of the season, leaving the Saints yet to register a win.
Luke Bowyer’s return to the Blues line-up has been marked with a powerful century last week and wickets this week. Ferntree Gully had no problems defending last week’s 6/377 against The Basin despite Jayden Turcinovic’s 111 not out.
At one stage the Huntsmen were 1/160 just before tea with Danny Rundle chipping in with 58. It was Bowyer and the evergreen Graham Salan who did the job with the ball as Ferntree Gully claimed the points for the third time this season.
Johnson Park walked away from their encounter with Upper Ferntree Gully disappointed after being bowled out for 166. The strong Sharks lineup showed little with the exception of Dulip Samaraweera who managed 55. The Kings are two and one after Phil Salter took 4/70 on the back oval at Kings Park.
Belgrave also has two wins on the board after Ben Carnell (5/39) got amongst the Rowville bats. Carnell has taken successive five wicket hauls. Gaining the first innings result by 17 runs, the Magpies then had a hit to see out the day at 2/87.
Eildon Park batted two players short but had enough in the tank to get past Monbulk, Skipper Josh Dowling made sure that the Panthers completed their third win to see them share top spot with Ferntree Gully.
In Decoite Shield, Rhys Marget fell two short of his century as Knox Gardens accounted for Johnson Park, Knox defended 262 against Eildon Park and The Basin’s 4/311 was too much for Ferntree Gully.
Auravale took outright points against Lysterfield with former Dandenong player Kevin McDonald snaring eight wickets for the game. Knoxfield registered their second win against South Belgrave and in the final game Footballers’ Travis Richardson took four wickets against Upwey as the Gryphons took their tally to three wins.