Baxter remain the yardstick PROVINCIAL By IT Gully MORNINGTON Peninsula cricket superstar and Baxter skipper Daniel Warwick guided his team to a well deserved premiership on Saturday at Alexandra Park. In front of a packed house, Warwick stayed at the crease to the very end, celebrating yet another silver cup in the Baxter Cricket Club trophy cabinet with an unbeaten 69. Baxter’s opponent, Sorrento, lost its fourth grand final on the trot and one wonders whether they will ever taste the ultimate glory. Whilst Baxter held the upper hand
heading into the third and final day on Saturday, it still took some individual brilliance to get the job done. Sorrento’s intent was obvious from the outset and that was to score runs quickly, get a big lead and try and bowl Baxter out with as many overs up their sleeve as possible. A lead of around 170 would have been the target, however, Baxter’s bowlers, refreshed after a week off, removed Sorrento skipper Nick Jewell very early, courtesy of Ben Smith. The rest of the six bastmen who followed failed to get to double figures. Anthony Blackwell made 35, however, he had half of those last week. Sorrento made 211 in their second
innings, adding to the miserly 51 they made in the first. This left Baxter with a target of 154 to win. Having already won the match on first innings, Baxter had two ways to play it. Bat out the day without making the runs, or go for it and reach the target. Baxter has always played boldly and they were always going to aim for the latter. They did it in the 59th over in fine style. Whilst Warwick was the second innings hero with 69, Joe Rule also played a significant role in the victory with his 32. When he came to the crease, Sorrento had a real sniff at 2/14.
However, other than Blackwell and AJ King, Sorrento really were short another bowling option. Warwick didn’t look threatened at any point and with a more than reasonable batting line-up behind him, they were always going to see out the day or make the runs required. Blackwell finished with three wickets and seven for the match. AJ King snared two wickets and five for the match. The match belonged to Baxter though. Dale Irving finished with match figures of 6/65 from 25 overs. Chamika Sattambi was superb also, picking-up 8/64 from 25 overs across the three days.
Ben Smith made 49 in the first innings and took three second innings wickets. Baxter was professional throughout the match, despite plenty happening around them. They are undoubtedly the benchmark of Mornington Peninsula cricket and adding Delacombe Park skipper Chris Brittain to the squad next season is only going to make them stronger. In a tight, tough season, Baxter Cricket Club proved it was the cream that could once again rise to the top. Winning flags has become a habit for the club and it shows no signs of slowing down.
Eagles lead all the way DISTRICT By IT Gully SOMERVILLE will play in Provincial grade next season after hanging on strongly to win the MPCA District grand final. Although the Eagles had won the match last week on first innings, Red Hill coach Simon Dart was always going to exercise his option of trying to get a reverse outright on the third available day. Red Hill made 170 in their first innings and Somerville replied with 224 after Brenton Alp and David Kuelen made an 80-run partnership when their side was in some trouble at 5/121. Red Hill needed quick runs and they sure got them on the final day, making a quick fire 186 in just 26 overs, giving themselves plenty of time to bowl out Somerville. The Eagles simply needed to occupy the crease for the duration of the day to win. They also had the option of scoring the 133 runs. Given more overs, Somerville would have easily got the runs, however, they were happy to spend as much time at the crease as possible. Red Hill used six bowlers in an attempt to capture 10 wickets, however, they managed to get just two of them. The Eagles finished 36 overs at 2/104. It was enough to taste the sweet nectar of premiership glory and look forward to a return to Provincial cricket. Red Hill was the dominant team in the home and away season, however, its finals campaign wasn’t so convincing. Somerville was always the danger team and it proved to be the case when it mattered most.
Swinging up to Provincial: Somerville defeated Red Hill in their Grand Final and will play Provincial cricket next season. Picture: Andrew Hurst Frankston Times 23 March 2015
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