An intriguing final round of the Bairnsdale Cricket Association is set to unfold over the next two Saturdays with one finals spot still up for grabs.
The current ladder sees Lindenow South Glenaladale (58) leading, followed by Wy Yung (52), West Bairnsdale (50) and Orbost (36) in the top four. Lucknow (36) and Lakes Entrance (34) are still hoping to sneak into finals with victories in the final round.
While the top three sides are secure, the fourth spot remains wide open. The order of the top three could also change, with Wy Yung capable of claiming top spot if it defeats Paynesville and West Bairnsdale topples the Bulls. Another scenario sees West Bairnsdale winning while Paynesville causes an upset at Bullumwaal Road, which would give West second place on the ladder and the right to host a semi final against Wy Yung at the City Oval — a venue that could challenge the Tigers’ preferred batting style.
Although Paynesville defeated Wy Yung earlier in the season, it had everything to play for then, adding extra uncertainty to the outcome this time.
The battle for fourth spot is expected to go down to the wire. If Orbost defeats Lakes Entrance at the Lakeside Oval, Lucknow’s only chance to leapfrog them would be an outright win over bottom side Meerlieu at the MCG.
For Lakes Entrance to make the finals, they would need both Lucknow and Orbost to falter. Orbost controls its own destiny, while the Tussocks must overcome a challenging line-up to claim their second win of the season — a task made slightly easier by their confidence from a strong second-innings effort last Saturday which denied Orbost maximum points.
With 160 overs of the home-and-away season remaining, the final top-four positions — and their order — are likely to fluctuate dramatically over the next two Saturdays, promising an exciting finish to the BCA season.
