Bowled out: Hastings smashed Ballam Park in their weekend Sub-district match as the season comes to a nail-biting conclusion ahead of finals. Picture: Rab Siddhi

Kangas show true grit PROVINCIAL

By IT Gully LANGWARRIN is equal top of the MPCA Provincial ladder after coming from the bleachers to knock over Mornington in the final two-day game of the home and away season. Chasing 211 for victory at Alexandra Park, the Kangas resumed at 2/10, chasing the Doggies’ total of 210. Things become worse very quickly for the Kangas at the beginning of day two when Mitch Bromley was removed after just five runs were added to the overnight total (3/15). Matt Prosser and skipper Trav Campbell steadied things down and got the score to 93 before Mornington quick Michael Heib struck again. When Tay Smith was gone for a blob

and Prosser went a short time later, the Kangas were in some real strife at 5/108. The visitors then dug deep again, Jake Prosser and cousin Joel Bateman hitting 39 and 32 respectively to give their side some hope for the first time in the innings. When Bateman went, the score was 8/194 with plenty of overs to play and the Kangas were in the box seat. The evergreen Mal Coutts (24 not out), together with Matt Campbell, picked up the 15 runs required for victory. Langwarrin’s wins over the past two matches against fourth-placed Mt Eliza and now fifth-placed Mornington gives them a 20-point buffer in third place. The Kangas are only percentage from top spot. Peninsula Old Boys and Baxter gave a taste of what to expect in the finals

starting in a fortnight after playing out a terrific match at Greg Beck oval. Baxter resumed at 9/194 with four overs to bat, however, added just three runs before Tom Feldgen trapped Sam Wolsgrove in front. POB then started its mission to hunt down the runs in 82 overs – it achieved the objective in 75 overs and with five wickets in hand. Skipper Matt Hyden top scored for the Old Boys with an unbeaten 57, Glenn Prendergast hit 49 batting at four and Jon Forrest was not out 31. Dale Irving was the pick of the Baxter bowlers with 2/36 from 15 overs. Crib Point is still a outside chance of making finals after smashing Pines. The Magpies resumed at 3/24 chasing 136 with Duane Annable and Luke Herrington at the crease.

Annable top scored with 46 and with Neil Clark adding 40 and Matt Blake an unbeaten 21, the Pies got to 8/183. The Pies must beat POB this weekend in the final game of the season (onedayer) and rely on Somerville to beat Mt Eliza and Moorooduc to beat Mornington to make the four. Mt Eliza recorded a comfortable victory over Sorrento. The Mounties resumed at 4/174 with 12 overs to bat on day two and got the score to 9/216 off the full 80 overs. Keith Biggs top scored with 55 after resuming on 40. Leigh Poholke finished with 2/8 from 2.2 overs. In reply, the Sorras were rolled for 85 with Mark Dunball top scoring with 19. Lyle House wound back the clock with 6/18 from 12 overs, while Shaun Knott claimed 2/39 from 15.

With 41 overs still left in the day, the Sorras were sent in again but withstood the onslaught and finished at 1/42. Pearcedale picked up the 12 points against Somerville. Chasing 127 for victory, the Panthers had its sights set on an outright and got the runs three wickets down off just 44 overs after Chris Dew hit 62 and Will Kennedy 51, while Kaine Smith chipped in with 42 at the end. The Eagles were 4/131 in their second innings, preventing an outright win to the Panthers. Long Island tasted a rare victory, smashing Moorooduc. Defending 164, the Islanders bowled out the Ducs for 98 with Andrew Tweddle bowling 25 overs for a return of 3/37, while Chris Hocking picked-up 3/14 off 15 overs.

hill is fourth (74, 1.15) and Mt Martha is just outside on 74 points and a percentage of 1.15. On 66 points are Flinders (1.06) and Rosebud (.96). It’s going to go down to the wire with results of the final round determining who makes the final four. The important matches this weekend are Red Hill v Rosebud, Main Ridge v Seaford, Mt Martha v Delacombe Park and Flinders v Heatherhill. Rosebud only has itself to blame when it misses finals after being humiliated by Rye. Rye defended just 94 to win by almost 20 runs. Even more importantly for the Demons, however, was that they went two matches clear of Boneo and prevented

relegation, regardless of the result between the two teams this Saturday. The Buds resumed on 3/23 and that quickly became 8/45 – they were eventually dismissed for 76. Billy Quigley top scored with 12. Baden Powell dropped out of contention too after being smashed by Flinders. The Braves resumed at 1/11 chasing 108 for victory – they were bowled out for 90 after Matt Burns snared 4/30 and Max Royal 3/12. Flinders were 3/160 in their second dig. Delacombe Park gained some momentum, getting the job done against Red Hill after MPCA legend Nick Christides blasted 127. It was vintage Christides who took the

game away from the Hillmen with nine fours and eight sixes in his innings. Chasing 182 for victory, the Parkers finished at 4/183 in 68 overs after Christides scored 127 of the team’s first 167 runs. Main Ridge picked up the valuable 12 point against Heatherhill, pretty much assuring them a place in the finals. Results would have to go against the Ridge this weekend and they would need to be smashed by Seaford to miss the finals. The Ridge had already won the game on the opening day, dismissing Heatherhill for 96 and then resuming at 7/121. They finished at 9/154. Heatherhill made 8/155 in their second innings after

being 6/78 at one stage. Gareth Wyatt picked up 4/26 from 14 overs for the Ridge. Mt Martha couldn’t get the 277 needed for victory against Seaford, bowled out for 222. After looking like a challenger for the majority of the season, the Reds now look shaky to even make it. Resuming at 1/10, Mt Martha quickly slumped to 3/19 before Riley Shaw (35) and skipper Mitchel Darville (57) gave them some hope. The difference was just too great though and the Reds were always playing catch up, despite 35 from Ben Shorthouse.

Finals places go down to the wire DISTRICT

By IT Gully IT’S crunch time ahead of the final home and away match of the MPCA District season this Saturday. It has been an incredibly tight division from round one and things haven’t changed over the course of the season. With just a one-day match to play this Saturday, there are still six teams fighting for three places on the ladder. Red Hill, which sits on top of the ladder, is the only team assured of a finals place as we head into the final round. Main Ridge is in second place (86 points and a percentage of 1.35), Delacombe Park is third (78, 1.32), Heather-

Frankston Times 27 February 2017

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