After two days of intriguing round 13 Bairnsdale Cricket Association (BCA) “A” grade action, finals spots are still up for grabs, the last round needed to determine who chases ultimate glory.
This round saw the “A” grade play on Saturday and Sunday, which certainly saw the matches contested on a level playing field and ensured exciting cricket in all four top grade fixtures.
There were two exciting centuries, and two extraordinary efforts with the balls, two of which got their respective sides home and two that didn’t.
The live ladder fluctuated continually on Sunday with the weekend’s biggest loser, Meerlieu, looking likely to finish the weekend as the top seed, only to be beaten by the narrowest margin and drop out of the top four totally.
The Tussocks would love those six points back that they were pinged for late payment of its affiliation fees.
Current top position holder Lindenow South Glenaladale would have found themselves fifth if they had fallen to West Bairnsdale.
The race appears to be down to five sides, with sixth placed Lucknow needing an outright victory against St Mary’s Nagle to give itself any chance, which appears unlikely.
The equation is relatively easy for the top five sides – Lindenow South Glenaladale, West Bairnsdale, Lakes Entrance, Nagle and Meerlieu – victory will ensure you play finals, defeat will see you in the hands of the gods.
THE MATCHES
Nagle needed to beat the Tussocks to stay in the race and that’s exactly what they did courtesy of an unbroken 18-run final wicket partnership between Andrew Perrin (11) and Johnny Lash (5).
Not even an inspirational 8/45 from 23 outstanding overs from Frankie Mostert was enough to get the Tussocks home, who looked set for an easy win when Ricky Tatnell was caught and bowled by Mostert, reverting the score to 6/36 in pursuit of 133 for victory.
Solid partnerships between Ethan East (47) and Brayden McCarrey (24), and Harvey Spaxman (11) and East worked the Saints back into the contest.
But Mostert wasn’t having it, bowling East just when the big fellow was poised to steer his side home, Nagle 9/115 with plenty of work to do.
East’s innings was a mix of patience and aggression, batting superbly in searing heat, hitting three boundaries and his regulation towering major.
The final half an hour was cricket at it’s best, tense and tough, a close run out turned down and Perrin teasing the fielders with some air balls that landed safely, but he held his nerve, using his experience to guide his team home and keep the dream alive.
Saints skipper, Tatnell, was delighted with the grit and determination shown by his tailenders and that its fate is now in its own hands.
“It was a great win, nail biting stuff, but we showed how much it meant to us and now we just need to win to book a place,” Tatnell said.
Meerlieu looked set for a big score on Saturday, ticking along nicely at 5/118, before they lost 5/14 with Tatnell to the fore taking an astonishing 7/19 from 19 accurate and consistent overs, continuing his outstanding season.
Skipper Rohan Blandford (19), Matt Busch (18), Mostert (15) and Nicholas Adendorff (23) all looked set to capitalise on their good starts, but it was only Reagan Kyle (43 not out) who went on with it, but unfortunately he ran out of partners.
They could have benefitted from a knock like their round three hero, Anthony Scott, produced on the weekend, a sparkling 193 from 189 balls for his home club, Yarram, against Collegians in the Sale Maffra Cricket Association.
The Bulls held on to win at home against a gallant West Bairnsdale, moving back onto the top of the ladder in the process, which is a feat in itself given its lost five of its last seven matches. With two wins in a row, the Bulls may be just peaking at the right time.
The Bulls were bowled out late on the day one for 188 with Haydn Erfurth (63) again top scoring, well supported by veteran Scott Davidson (28) and young all rounder Seth Smith (27).
West would’ve been happy to be chasing just 188 as at 5-144 a score of over 200 did look more than likely.
Jack Lind (3/26) and skipper Ryan Halford (3/30) were again impressive for West, as was young Jake Anderson, who bowls straight and picked up 2/21, pivotal in the late order demise of the Bulls.
Brodie Anderson was again vital with the bat for West, making a magnificent 76 from 188 balls.
Although several batsmen in the middle order got to double figures batting with him, no-one was able to cash in and bat for any length of time.
Brodie was keen to get after young Bulls off spinner Logan Dunkley (4/31) after the tea break, using his feet regularly to try and penetrate the field.
Eventually the youngster got one past the bat, Zach O’Keefe doing the rest in the blink of an eye.
West then collapsed losing 5/12 to be all out for 149, the Bulls home by 39.
Lakes Entrance ended Orbost’s hopes of going back-to-back with a 74 – run victory in a high-scoring affair at the Orbost Recreation Reserve.
Seagulls import Jack Kesteven had a weekend to remember, making a sensational 111 and backing it up with 5/81 on Sunday.
Lakes declared on Saturday late in the day at 8/276 with Kesteven getting outstanding support from Nathan King (39 from 36, including nine fours), Daniel Bryant (35) and co-captain, Jake Le Maitre (35), with Alex Hulme picking up 3/62 for the Blues.
But the story was the big burly chap from England, facing 170 balls, belting 15 boundaries and a huge six.
It was the Seagulls’ biggest score for the season when they really needed it, but the Blues certainly didn’t lay down, fighting it right out to the finish, led by a masterclass from Curtley Farley who smashed 129 runs from 145 balls, including 13 boundaries and six maximums.
The game looked set for an early finish at 8/107 but a fighting partnership between Farley and fast bowler, Alfie Lindsay (15), gave hope and plenty of concern to the Seagulls.
The pair put on 92 for the ninth wicket in just over 132 balls, before Lindsay was caught and bowled by Dane Tinsley (3/44), with man of match Kesteven fittingly picking up the last batsmen, Scott Mundy, leg before wicket to end the Orbost dream.
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From page 40
Plenty of wickets fell at Bullumwaal Road in the clash between Wy Yung and Lucknow, the Tigers keen to get some valuable points to get off the bottom of the table and the Magpies keen to push forward for a finals spot.
The Magpies were behind the eight ball from the start when they could only muster 97 in their first innings, with Aaron Cameron’s 47 the only significant contribution.
Stephen Bertino (5/26) and Sean Philipson (3/21) both bowled superbly for the Tigers.
The game looked looked set for thrilling finish at 7/86, but some quick late order runs from Wy Yung skipper Darcy Murray (30 from 18 balls) quickly put the match beyond doubt, as the home side declared at 9/128.
Daniel Gledhill contributed a solid 33 at the top of the order for the Tigers, while Cameron (3/26) and the consistent Liam Dyson (3/48) were both among the wickets for the Pies.
Lucknow were quickly in trouble in its second dig at 4/15, an outright looking probable, but a stoic knock from skipper Jarryd Floyd (32 not out) saw Lucknow hang on and labour to 7/87 when stumps were called.
THIS WEEK’S MATCHES
It all comes down to the final round with every side having something to play.
The top five need to win to confirm a finals place, sixth placed Lucknow needs an unlikely outright victory to sneak into finals action, while it is also locked in an interesting battle with Orbost and Wy Yung for the wooden spoon.
No-one wants to finish last, the Tigers showing last round that it’s keen to avoid the title, almost pulling of an outright victory over Lucknow.
Orbost will trek to Glenaladale to tackle the Bulls, who after a mid-season slump appear to be peaking at just the right time.
Lucknow will host St Mary’s Nagle, who got the job done on Sunday when its back was to the wall. A win like that could could be an impetus for exciting things in coming weeks.
Meerlieu will host Wy Yung, the Tussocks keen to bounce back and claim its rightful place in the top four.
West Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance at the Bairnsdale City Oval is a mouth-watering contest with batting being tough at the venue in recent times.
It will be interesting to see if the Seagulls’ much improved batting can adapt to slow and low pitch, where the ball generally doesn’t come onto the bat.
The early wicket of Brodie Anderson could well decide this match, he has been the cornerstone of many of West’s victorious this season.
The Seagulls are precariously placed. Both St Mary’s Nagle and Meerlieu below them are favoured in their respective clashes with Lucknow and Wy Yung, while their contest is a flip of the coin. Victories for the Saints and Tussocks and a loss to Lakes would spell the end for the Seagulls.
YOUNG STARS ON DISPLAY
Paynesville Cricket Club young stars, Dixie Clack, Sara Melrose and Sienna Rabbitt represented the Gippsland Pride in a match against Dandenong last Sunday in Melbourne.
Gippsland Pride was victorious scoring 178 off 35 overs and then restricting Dandenong to 103.
All four girls have been selected to be part of the Gippsland Cricket League winter training squad.
UMPIRES
“A” grade: Lindenow South Glenaladale v Orbost (Peter Usher, Ron Smith); Lucknow v St Marys Nagle (Don Haley); Meerlieu v WyYung (Mal Leys, Chris Websdale); West Bairnsdale v Lakes Entrance (Martin Blennerhassett). “A” reserve: Metung Swan Reach v West Bairnsdale (Damien Tubb).
