Kangas graduate to top spot PROVINCIAL
By IT Gully FINALLY, there was some play in MPCA Provincial cricket on Saturday. It was a great week for Langwarrin CC, who jumped to the top of the table, relegating Peninsula Old Boys to second place after recording a seven wicket win at Peninsula Grammar. Meanwhile, there is now a 20 point gap between fourth-placed Mornington and fifth placed Baxter. Since being promoted back to Provincial, Langwarrin has struggled against POB and Baxter. On Saturday, however, the monkey was lifted off the Kangas’ back after
winning comfortably against POB. The Kangas lost the toss and bowled first but got away to a great start with the ball, dismissing the usual thorn in their side, (and may other sides also!) Dylan O’Malley after he started the innings with a boundary. Fellow opener Wade Pelzer hit 48 and Glenn Prendergast made 54 in POB’s total of 6/155, while Adam Campbell was the pick of the bowlers with 3/19 from eight overs. Langwarrin’s top order did the job for them. Simon Parrott found himself at the top of the order and responded with 32, while Matt Prosser hit 44 to be the backbone of the innings.
Andy Johnson was the catalyst in the victory, blasting nine fours and one over the rope in his unbeaten 68 that saw the Kangas make 159 and claim victory. For the first time this season, it actually does appear that Baxter may miss the finals. On Saturday, it lost its fourth game of the season. This time it was to Sorrento. It was Sorrento’s second win of the season. With just four matches left in the home and away season, the reigning premier is going to start from a fair way back. It will start 20 points behind and faces Pearcedale, Mornington (4th), Langwarrin (top) and Mt Eliza (third).
It won’t be easy for Baxter but it should beat Pearcedale and Langwarrin is their bunny side. If it can beat Mornington also, then they would be right in the mix. On form, however, things would need to change a lot. The top three made some runs on Saturday but again none of them went on with it – Brittain 33, Warwick 31 and Rule 33. Justin Bridgeman was rolled for five and Dale Irving for 9. Baxter finish 9/169. Bobby Wilson was the best of the Sorrento bowlers with 4/28. Sorrento needed all of its overs (40) to score 7/170 and claim a one-run victory.
Jedd Falck scored 45 and Liam O’Connor 44 for the Sorras while Corey Harris hit 30, as did Chathupama Gunasinghe. It was enough to claim the win. Mt Eliza smashed bottom of the table Crib Point. The Mounties batted first and made 144 with Justin Grant top scoring with 36. In reply, the Pies were whipped for 75, Neil Clark top scoring with 27 after being the best of thee bowlers with 3/21. Lyle House was vintage, snaring 3/9 from eight overs. In the final game Mornington beat Pearcedale in a non-eventful and lowscoring clash.
Tight run to finals PENINSULA
By IT Gully THINGS have tightened right up in MPCA Peninsula cricket with five sides from third to seventh within one game of one another. Pines jumped into third place on Saturday with a great win over top of the table Main Ridge, while Moorooduc is just a game outside third place, despite a loss to Flinders on Saturday. Delacombe Park is the only team not in the mix and remains the front runner to be relegated at season’s end, even after beating Red Hill on Saturday. The Hillmen batted first on home turf and would have been very happy with its 5/232. On most occasions, that’s a winning score. The Red Hill top five all made great starts. Matt Merifield hit 40, Andrew Mock 38, Riley Shaw 35 from 35 deliveries, Simon Dart 51 from 40 deliveries and Tom Collett smacked 44 from 30 balls. Nick Christides was the pick of the Parkers’ bowlers with 4/53. The visitors had some work to do with the bat but did it with three overs to spare and five wickets in hand. Jon Guthrie belted 87, James Spencer 38, Rob Fisher 29 while Joel Malcom
Not too much of a stretch: Somerville easily defeated Long Island. Picture: Andrew Hurst
finished unbeaten on 25. The Parkers finished with 5/236. Flinders and Moorooduc were also embattled in a high-scoring game. The Ducs batted first and made 9/201, Pathum De Mel turning from dominant bowler to dominant batsman with 89, including six sixes. Justin McCleary added a well-timed 28 batting at 10 while Ben Williams opened with 29. Max Royal was the pick of the Flinders’ bowlers with 3/44. Regardless of the strong total, Moorooduc couldn’t defend it. Flinders scored the winning runs (6/206) in the final over, six wickets down. Shane Beggs was the main man, finishing unbeaten on 92, including seven fours and four sixes. Somerville belted Long Island, de-
spite losing 10 wickets. The Eagles rolled the Islanders for just 70, Matt Eager the destroyer with 5/13 from seven overs, while Blake Terlaak claimed 3/24 from seven. Aaron Paxton top scored for the Islanders with 17. In reply, Somerville was 2/0, however, Leigh Lowry (45) and Andrew West (32) guided their side to victory. In the final game, Pines won comfortably against Main Ridge. The Piners batted first and helped themselves to 9/208, thank largely to 31 from Pat Jackson batting at nine, while Jack Peace-Stirling hit 54 and Ash Hupe 42. The Piners then rolled the Ridge for 173 in 36.3 overs, Hupe snaring 4/48 from eight overs. Jackson picked up 2/29.
Jobling blasts big ton SUB-DISTRICT
By IT Gully BONEO moved back into the top four after knocking over Ballam Park in MPCA Sub District cricket on Saturday. The Pandas (68 points) moved two points clear of Tyabb and Carrum in fifth and sixth place on the ladder and a game clear of Frankston YCW in seventh place (56). The Knights and Skye (42) and Balnarring (30) now appear too far behind to play finals. The Pandas kept their finals hopes alive with a crushing with, thanks largely to a sensational display from Chris Jobling, who smashed nine sixes and six fours on his way to a match winning and unbeaten 121 from 110 balls. Cam Williams then strode to the crease in the middle order and belted 57 from 30 balls. The Pandas finished on an unbeat-
able 3/246. Jobling then added three wickets to his century, helping his team to a 99run victory. The Knights were bowled out for 147. Zac Clements top scored for the Knights with 53. Carrum is now knocking on the door of the top bracket after beating YCW. It was a critical win for both teams, with the loser falling a game behind fourth place. The Stonecats were never in it after its batting performance, rolled for just 99. Skipper Jason Bedford top scored with 34. In reply, Carrum got there four wickets down (4/101). Skipper Josh Dent top scored for the Lions with 33, while Jake D’Atri, who picked up two wickets with the ball, hit 21. Dromana moved to second place on the table with a big win over Skye. The Hoppers made 9/178 with Blake Pappas dominating with bat and ball. Pappas opened the batting with 32 while Zac Clan hit a half century and
Adam Ciavarella 39. Pappas then snared 4/37 with the ball and Jack Fowler picked up 3/27 to help roll Skye for 114. Tootgarook still holds top spot after beating Tyabb. The Yabbies batted first and gave themselves a slight chance after scoring 8/148, Nick Taranto scoring 66 and Jarrod White 38. Given they faced 187 balls between them, that was probably the reason they lost. In reply, the Frogs scored 5/150 in 34 overs. In the final match, Balnarring’s season hit another low, beaten by Carrum Downs. The Saints batted first and made just 107. Jayden Barker snared 4/24 for the visitors. The Cougars then scored 7/111 in 22.2 overs to comfortably win the match with skipper Ryan Lynch top scoring with 56.
No bail out: Baden Powell went down to Seaford after scoring 138. Picture: Andrew Hurst
Blues hit rock bottom DISTRICT
By IT Gully HASTINGS fell to its worst defeat of the season on Saturday in MPCA District cricket, humiliated by Rye. While the Demons started the season well, its form in recent times has been equally appalling as the Blues. On Saturday though, Rye again justified why it is in the top four, all be it on the back of a solid performance from Matt Whelan. Unfortunately for the Demons, there is far too much reliance on Whelan. It did win without Zac Stevenson though. The Blues tried to mix it up and sent Rye into bat after winning the toss. Whelan came in at three and made 71, while Aaron Vernon, who rarely lets the team down, contributed 25, helping Rye to 8/149. Isuru Dias was superb for the Blues, bowling seven overs and finishing with 4/16. Needing 150 to win, the show ended for the Blues when Rob Hearn was rolled by Whelan for 18. Like the Demons rely on Whelan, the Blues rely on Hearn. Luke Hewitt was back into the line up but he was Whelan’s second victim for eight. There was no hope at that point and the Blues were rolled for 83. Whelan finished with 3/27 while Vernon snared 3/15. Seaford Tigers stayed in touch with the top four, smashing Mt Martha. The one-sided performance came on he back of a dominant display from openers Ash Mills (95) and David James (68). The Tigers finished on an
unbeatable (6/249). In reply, the Reds were ordinary at best, bowled out for just 91. Skipper Rhys Whitling was the best of the Mt Martha batsmen with 29. Best of the Tigers’ bowlers was Matty Roach, who took the new pill and picked up 2/6 from five overs. Seaford too made a top two spot possible with a solid win over top of the table Baden Powell. The Braves made 7/138 after being sent into bat by Seaford skipper Ryan McQueen. Travis Kellerman top scored for the home side with 48 (off 105 balls), while Rhys Elmi made 42 (off 73 balls). The poor run rate had a massive effect on the final total. Chasing 139 for victory, Daniel Polson top scored for Seaford with 50, while Scott Manders contributed 26. It was enough to get the visitors to 6/140 in the tense final over. Craig Entwhistle was the pick of the Braves’ bowlers with 3/26. Rosebud got the job done in the final match of the District round. The Buds batted first and made an ordinary 127, Pete Doughty top scoring with 34 and Billy Quigley getting 27. In reply though, Sam Mullavey (27) was the only batsmen in the Heatherhill top eight to score double figures. Despite this, the Hills finished just 10 runs short in the 39th over. Pat Nagel was the best of the Rosebud bowlers with 4/35 while recruit Janaka Kumarage made an immediate impression with figures of 3/7 from eight overs, including four maidens.
Frankston Times 22 January 2018
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