Keira gamble ends in disaster

A GAMBLING declaration by Keira backfired in Saturday’s round of Illawarra cricket action. Round five had been reduced to one-day matches played with two-days rules and Keira hoped to take advantage of the unusual playing condition in their clash with Corrimal at Keira Oval. Batting first Keira scored 9/204 before sealing an easy first-innings win by rolling Corrimal for 64. Keira declared their second innings at 0/0, setting Corrimal an outright victory target of 140. Corrimal scored the required runs with five wickets in hand, led by 59 not out from Dean Merola and 58 from Michael Stevenson; Glenn Prouten bagged 4/13 for Keira. Meanwhile, University are still leading the competition after a seven-wicket win over Wests at University Oval. Wests batted first but could only muster 105; their batting effort was wrecked by Uni’s Kurt Miller, who bagged 6/23 and Graeme Stinson (3/16). Daniel Shipp hammered 61 as Uni successfully chased their target for the loss of three wickets. At Helensburgh Oval, Knut Wilmott marked his return to Illawarra cricket by hammering an unbeaten century for Helensburgh. Wilmott finished with 150 not out as Helensburgh pummelled the Northern Districts attack for 5/308 off their fifty overs. Neil Cohen (66) and Dan Paine (61) joined the slaughter. Tim Lloyd (4/16) and Sam Northridge (3/21) then led the demolition job as Northern Districts were dismissed for 87. Scott Beckett (28) and Rob Sheeley (20) resisted for Norths. A re-tooled Balgownie line-up scored a three-wicket win over Wollongong at Judy Masters Oval. New recruit Mark Johnson played a starring role for the Magpies, snaring 3/9 with the ball as Wollongong were dismissed for 107. Johnson then hit a nerveless 52 as Bally hauled in their target with three wickets in hand. Shane Fanning (3/28), Tim Long (2/25) and Steve Blissenden (2/40) were the best Wollongong bowlers. Dapto scored a regulation seven-wicket win over Port Kembla to complete the round. University (37) still lead the competition, followed by Wollongong (28), Helensburgh (26), Balgownie (21), Dapto (20), Norths (16), Keira (14), Corrimal (13), Wests (8) and Port (3). On Saturday round six will be played with Wollongong hosting Wests at North Dalton Park. Port Kembla faces Helensburgh at King George Oval, Corrimal travels to Reed Park to face Dapto, Norths meet Balgownie at Hollymount Park East and University host Keira at University Oval. All games start at 12.30.