It took until the conclusion of the final round to determine the finalists in the Bairnsdale Cricket Association, but now they have been decided the premier still looks difficult to identify.
West Bairnsdale and Lindenow South Glenaladale will clash in one semi final at the Bairnsdale Oval, with the competition’s inform outfit, St Mary’s Nagle, hosting Meerlieu in the other.
West and the Bulls look evenly matched, both looking to grind out a win on a lifeless track that has been a graveyard for batsmen this summer.
West will go into the game full of confidence having withstood a determined Lakes Entrance last Saturday, while the Bulls have struggled since Christmas, registering only two victories after looking unbeatable prior to the break.
The Saints’ bowling attack has no equal and oozes class, but it will need to be on song if the Tussocks batters come ready to play. They have the best top six of the finals sides, led by captain Rohan Blandford who has had a stunning season.
The Saints batting can be fragile at times, however they may not need many runs on the board with captain Ricky Tatnell leading a fierce seam attack.
LAST WEEK
Lakes Entrance’s quest for back-to-back BCA finals appearances ended at Bairnsdale City Oval in a slow and painful death.
Needing to win the match to maintain a position inside the top four, the Seagulls let themselves down on day one with a sub par score of 111.
West Bairnsdale resumed last Saturday at 4/62 hoping to post its eighth win of the season and claim the minor premiership, and that’s exactly what it did.
They were some anxious moments early for West and the Seagulls never gave up hope, but in the end West reached 8/141 from 74 overs when play was finally called at afternoon tea.
Brodie Anderson was again impossible to remove finishing on 29 not out, while Atley Williams top scored with 37.
Wickets for the Seagulls were shared with multiples being taken by Jacob Sackfield (2/9) and Nathan King (2/29).
Although Orbost won’t be defending its “A” grade premiership this season, it did finish the season with a win that lifted them to sixth place on the table.
With a huge turnover of players in the pre-season, the Blues started the season slowly, but have been solid in the second half of the season, showing in the final round what they are capable of when the moons align.
Defending 229 at Glenaladale, Orbost looked to be trouble several times, but worked hard in the searing heat to post an impressive 23 run victory.
At 0/80, with Scott Dare (62) and Nathan Pollard (20) looking in good form, the Bulls looked capable of chasing down the formidable target, the Blues gaining control shortly after when Luke Endley (5/58) picked up the dangerous Dare.
Steady batting by Seth Smith (35). Haydn Erfurth (15) and Scott Davidson (31) saw the Bulls work back into the game as they pushed for a top of the ladder season finish.
A 3/150 the game was anyone’s but when Endley picked up Logan Dunkley and Haydn Erfurth, the pendelum quickly swung back the Blues way.
The Bulls losing the last six wickets for just 33, with only Davidson offering any real resistance, Endley superb, rewarded for 25 accurate overs in debilitating heat, well supported by skipper, Max Welsh who picked up 2/31.
St Mary’s Nagle made it four consecutive victories, rolling Lucknow for just 130 after posting a confidence boosting 229 on day one.
Luke Hedger (32) and Stephen Montant (32) offered some resistance for the Magpies either side of tea, but they were no match for powerful Nagle bowling attack which looks more than capable of bowling them to March glory, even with speedster Andrew Perrin hampered by injury.
This week the stars were Johnny Lash (5/21) and Danny Hack (3/40), but one senses that come the moment it will be Perrin and skipper Tatnell who will be stepping up in the next fortnight.
The most entertaining day’s cricket was at the MCG where Meerlieu resumed at 4/118 and was bowled out for a disappointing 169, which put it 58 runs ahead of the Wy Yung on first innings.
Veterans Darcy Murray (5/61) and Marcus Laatham (3/5) were to the fore for the Tigers, Frankie Mostert making 38 for Meerlieu.
Wy Yung batted much better in its second attempt, declaring at 5/165 with Nick Carroll (58), Todd Murray (47) and Stephen Bertino (28) all among the runs in their final bat for the season.
Mostert continued to impress with the ball, finishing with 3/48 for the Tussocks.
Meerlieu was set a sporting 107 from 30 overs to take maximum points, but with no batsmen able to really cash in they settled for first innings points at 8/89, with the Tigers thinking late in the day they might steal some points, which would have elevated it off the bottom of the ladder and changed the first week finals match ups.
Darcy Murray was in sensational form for the Tigers taking 7/28, making it 12 for the match and 10 for the day.
Matt Busch (26), Mostert (20) and Nicholas Adendorff (20) made solid contributions for the Tussocks.
SEMI FINAL MATCHES
“A” grade: West Bairnsdale v Lindenow South Glenaladale at Bairnsdale City Oval; St Mary’s Nagle v Meerlieu at Nagle College.
“A” reserve: Paynesville v West Bairnsdale at AJ Freeman Turf; Metung Swan Reach v Bruthen at Swan Reach Recreation Reserve.
“B” grade: Orbost v Paynesville at Orbost Recreation Reserve; Metung Swan Reach v Buchan at Bruthen Recreation Reserve.
“C” grade: Lindenow South Glenaladale v Sarsfield at Glenaladale Reserve; Paynesville v Lakes Entrance at AJ Freeman Synthetic.
