Baxter still in with a sniff PROVINCIAL
By IT Gully THEY say that a week can be along time in sport. Just one match ago in MPCA Provincial Cricket, Baxter appeared to be a long shot of making this year’s final series. Fast forward a match and Baxter is now the only team outside of the top bracket to be any chance of breaking in. That comes on the back of a demolition job on Pearcedale who would have been confident of getting the 191 runs needed for victory. Baxter’s bowling attack shared in the glory boasting five wicket takers in Pearcedale’s innings of 129. Ben Brittain was the pick of Baxter’s bowlers with 2/14 while Dale Irving took 2/19 and Chamara Sattambi helped himself to 2/27. Pearcedale skipper Kaine Smith was the standout with the bat with an unbeaten 50, while Shayne Gillings was next best for 27. Langwarrin made light work of Sorrento on Saturday. Starting the day chasing 262 for victory, Sorrento was cheaply rolled for just 100. Given Jed Falck made 54 off his own
bat, it would be hard to disagree with the fact that the Sorras were pathetic. Leigh Paterson started the rot for the Kangas and finished with 4/16 off ten overs. However it was Matt Prosser who again stood out from the rest snaring 4/9 off just 4.2 overs. This goes with his 54 runs opening the batting last weekend. How Prosser was overlooked for the country week team is still an eyebrow raiser as supported by social media following the squad announcement last week. The game between Peninsula Old Boys and Mt Eliza was set to be a thriller on Saturday when POB resumed at 3/50, chasing 152 for victory. However the game was nothing but a fizzer with Lyle House tearing through the Old Boys batting line up, bowling 24.3 overs for a return of 5/38. Chris McDonough was also back for the Mounties picking up 3/32 off 18 overs. Tom La Brooy was the highest run getter for POB with 39. As predicted Mornington made light work of Crib Point bowling out the Magpies for 143. Defending 208 Mornington was always in the box seat to win the match. Matt Foon was again the start for the doggies taking 4/29 off 17 overs, while Michael Heib helped himself to 3/40.
Don’t call it a comeback: Baxter stand an outside chance of making the finals after beating Pearcedale. Picture: Andrew Hurst
Seaford does it tough DISTRICT
Ducs down: Moorooduc quacked under Red Hill’s pressure. Picture: Andrew Hurst
Islanders smash fangless Pythons PENINSULA
By IT Gully LONG Island stepped up to the plate when it needed, steam rolling Pines in impressive fashion in MPCA Peninsula Cricket on Saturday. The Islanders started the day defending a modest total of just 154, however its bowling attack came to the fore, all of them contributing to the wicket tally. Greg Lamb was at his brilliant best snaring 4/18 off 12 overs while Stuart Swift took 2/15 and Andrew Tweddle picked up 2/19. Nick Wilcox finished unbeaten for Pines on 20. The only other batsman to score double figures was Jarred Coad with 13. Main Ridge, despite resuming one wicket down against Delacombe Park, still would have fancied its chances of reaching and passing the Parkers 197. However yet another batting collapse saw the Ridge rolled for just 136 in 87 overs.
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Ricky Ramsdale, who topped scored for the Parkers with the bat, was also the pick of the bowlers claiming 5/41 off 26 overs. Keeper-batsman Ed Aarons top scored for the Ridge with 44. Flinders successfully defended its 9/207 against Somerville, winning by 28 runs. The Eagles lasted 75.3 overs, scoring 179. Leigh Lowry (52) and Andrew West (27) gave the Eagles a slight sniff but Flinders bowling attack proved too strong in the end. Matt Burns was the best of the Sharks bowlers with 3/40 off 24.3 overs while Max Royal also picked up three wickets and Dwayne Field took 2/35. In the final game of the round as predicted Red Hill easily defended its 7/313. Moorooduc could only manage 150 in reply off 48 overs. Shamith Kannangara top scored for the Ducs with 24. With the ball Simon Dart was the best of the bowlers with 3/24.
Frankston Times 5 February 2018
By IT Gully SEAFORD made tough work of winning its MPCA District game against Rye. However that was predicted given Seaford started day two of the match reeling at 4/42. David Anderson (28) and Dean Polson with an unbeaten 67 saved the day for Seaford, getting to a match winning total of 178 in just 57 overs. Andrew Dunn was the best of Rye’s bowlers, bowling 23 overs for a return of 3/72. Hastings deserved to celebrate on
Saturday night and it did so with a 37 run victory over Mt Martha. Isuru Dias was masterful for the Blues sending down 32.2 sensational overs and picking up a match winning 7/44. Kade Bendle was the pick of the Red’s batters with 35 while Kane Hawkins was next best with 34. As predicted last week Seaford Tigers successfully picked up an outright victory over Rosebud. After bowling out Rosebud for 77 in the first innings the Tigers quickly smashed 3/183. When it came to bat again Rosebud fared a little better in it’s second in-
nings but was still bowled out for 106. Matty Roach was the pick of the Tiger’s bowlers with 5/26 while Jack Brooking took 4/34. Seaford Tigers required just three runs for the outright, which it picked up on the fifth delivery of the innings. Baden Powell fell agonisingly close to beating Heatherhill on Saturday falling 15 runs short. Hill’s star Matt Maugher was the key to the Hill’s victory, picking up 4/94 off 25 overs. Brad Mur was next best with the ball with 3/36. The Braves scored 221 in reply to the Hill’s 236.
Floating on air: Hastings were celebrating after a 37 run win over Mt Martha. Picture: Andrew Hurst