It’s been the story each and every week, but the twists and turns continued in round 12 of the Bairnsdale Cricket Association last Saturday.
With just three rounds remaining, all two-day fixtures, a finals berth is the hottest ticket in town and not only can’t sides not afford to lose, they don’t want their opponents banking vital points.
After day one action, three sides in the top four have worked themselves into a formidable position, while St Mary’s Nagle made a huge statement, already taking first innings points against third-placed Lakes Entrance, reviving a season that looked to be headed for the scrap heap just weeks ago.
The Saints hold a lead of 104 with three wickets in hand and outright points will see them leapfrog the Seagulls, who will be desperate to hang on and maintain a position in the top four.
The Saints were lit up by excellent bowling performances from big guns Ricky Tatnell (5/26) and Andrew Perrin (3/14) who bowled the Seagulls out for just 93 in less than 29 overs.
The Seagulls won the toss and opted to bat on its home deck. Only co-captain Ben John (34 from 41) and Jack Kesteven (27 from 54) offered any real resistance to the Saints attack who will be a force to be reckoned with in the coming weeks.
John is an a rich vein of form hitting the ball cleanly, his innings including two towering sixes, but if Lakes Entrance is to go deep into March he will need to convert his good starts into big scores and hope for more support from his teammates.
The Saints powered to 7/197 from the remaining 51 overs off the back of a hard hitting 94 from just 87 balls from the highly talented Brayden McCarrey.
His innings included eight boundaries and three massive sixes before holing out in the deep to Josh Sackfield off the bowling of Kesteven, who was the pick of the Lakes bowlers with 4/60 from 16 overs.
Tatnell was also impressive with the bat, his cameo of 37 from 39 balls helping to maintain the run rate after the demise of McCarrey.
Ladder leader Meerlieu was dismissed for 166 at Orbost, which gave it some cause for concern but those fears were quickly at the back of it’s mind with the Blues slumping to 5/20 by stumps, with Frankie Mostert taking 4/5 from eight overs.
Darius Govender, Jayden Price, Cutley Farley, Alex Hulme and Luke Endley are all back in the sheds with the Blues needing something special to stay in finals contention.
Six batsmen got a start for the Tussocks with Rohan Blandford (36), Anthony Simpson (25), Matt Busch (24) and Jack McConachy (22) all looking good in the middle, but no one was able to capitalise and go big.
Blues skipper Max Welsh had a day out with the ball taking 4/33, his teammates hoping his good work might continue with the bat this week.
Fourth-placed Lindenow South Glenaladale has given itself a great opportunity of ending a five-game losing streak after making 178 on a slow ground at Wy Yung.
Young guns Seth Smith (51) and Logan Dunkley (27) led from the front for the Bulls, while Scott Dare (23) was again impressive at the top of the order but unable to convert a good start into a half century.
Tigers veterans Darcy Murray (4/53) and Sean Phillipson (3/15) were among the wickets, while Ben Saxon, Nick Carroll and Todd Murray will need to be among the runs this week if Wy Yung is to stay in the running for a finals spot.
Runs were again hard to come by at Bairnsdale City Oval with second-ranked West Bairnsdale toiling hard to get to 130 before having Lucknow reeling at 3/9 when stumps were drawn.
West was in dire straits early at 5/12, but a stoic 60 from Jake Anderson well supported by Sam Stewart (20) and Jack Lind (16 not out) has given its bowlers something that could be defendable.
Exciting youngster Taj Corben was again impressive for the Magpies, taking 3/22, including the prized wicket of Brodie Anderson early, leg before wicket.
Although 131 looks a huge impost at 3/9, Lucknow has shown in recent weeks it is are up to the challenge, chasing down victories against St Mary’s Nagle and Orbost.
It will be interesting to see if their new-found batting depth is up to the task with a place in the top four at the round’s conclusion the reward for victory this week.
COUNTRY WEEK
Bairnsdale Cricket Association had an impressive victory on day one of the annual Country Week tournament held every February in Melbourne.
Bairnsdale sent recent Gippsland Cricket League premier, Latrobe Valley, in to bat at Bayswater and bowled them out in the 49th over for 202.
Mostert (3/31), Stephen Bertino (3/26) and skipper Ryan Halford (2/36) were among the wickets.
In reply Bairnsdale cruised to victory with six wickets in hand, chasing down the total in 42 overs off the back of another Blandford masterclass.
The Meerlieu dasher made a classy 113 from just 118 balls including 12 boundaries and a maximum, his 125-run second wicket unison with Mostert (53) setting the Bairnsdale side up for a big week.
Bairnsdale will clash with Hamilton, Bellarine Peninsula and Sunraysia in the coming days.
