By Julian Bayard
SUPERB victories from Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll and Catani have thrown the race to avoid relegation from the West Gippsland Cricket Association’s (WGCA) Premier Division wide open.
With just one round left in the home-and-away season, Catani, Beaconsfield and Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll are all a chance to be relegated at the end of the season.
After upset victories from Catani over Pakenham Upper-Toomuc (PUT) and Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll over Beaconsfield, the final round of the season is set for four thrilling matches, with every one affecting either the finals positions or the wooden spoon.
Only Cardinia and Kooweerup are guaranteed a finals position, with third and fourth-placed sides Officer and PUT sitting just one game clear, plus percentage, ahead of Tooradin.
But it was at Pakenham Upper on Saturday that the Catani Cricket Club might have saved itself from relegation.
With just 191 runs on the board, the Blues produced a magnificent performance, dismissing the fourth-placed Yabbies for just 122 from 43 overs.
Luke McFarlane was the hero for the Blues, tearing through the home side’s batting line-up on his way to 6/41 from 18 overs.
Only four PUT batsmen managed to reach double figures for the afternoon, with McFarlane being ably supported by Lionel Sexton who took 3/40 from his 15 overs.
In an awesome opening spell, McFarlane and Sexton combined with wicketkeeper Ben Ahern on five separate occasions, with only PUT number-10 batsman Adam Cooper offering any real resistance with 28 runs.
Catani’s final-round opponent, Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll, also kept its chances alive of staying in Premier Division, with a fantastic run chase against Beaconsfield, where under-17 batsman Sam Vanderzalm scored a brilliant 105-run century.
In an innings that proves cricketing fortunes can turn around within a day, Vanderzalm blasted his match-winning century for the Marygoons after being dismissed for just two runs that morning in the under-17s against winless Gembrook.
Arriving at the crease with his side in desperate trouble at 4/91, Vanderzalm combined with skipper Craig Lewis (67 not-out) for a 150-run fifth-wicket partnership to guide the Marygoons to a memorable victory.
The home side eventually reached 7/291 from its 90 overs, surpassing Beaconsfield’s total of 8/277 and in the process, throwing the Tigers’ aspirations of remaining in the Premier Division into doubt.
If the Marygoons defeat Catani this week and the Tigers lose to third-placed Officer, then the WGCA’s biggest club, Beaconsfield, will be playing in the District competition next season.
At the top end of the ladder, Officer missed a golden opportunity to secure its place in the finals after falling short of Kooweerup’s 248, being dismissed for 215 from 63.2 overs.
At 4/180, the Bullants looked to be cruising towards victory, however, as they have done on so many occasions this season, the Demons found a way to win, taking 5/25 to win a great match by 33 runs.
Paul and Matt Bright were the heroes for Kooweerup, with Paul taking 4/40 from 12.2 overs, while Matt claimed 3/21 from his six overs.
Ben Baxter’s innings of 71 at number-three for Officer was full of class and included 11 boundaries, while Mick Torney produced his usual array of big hitting in his innings of 46, smashing three sixes.
Officer’s strong percentage should still see it finish in the top four, but against a desperate Beaconsfield outfit this week, the Bullants will have to be at the top of their game if they wish to go into the finals on a winning note.
Amongst all the talk of relegation and finals positions, top-placed Cardinia continues to firm as premiership favourites, with the Bulls dominating the competition, this week scoring a nine-wicket victory over fifth-placed Tooradin.
The Bulls’ successful run-chase was highlighted by a fantastic century from number-three batsman Steve Paterson who blasted 101, while opening batsman John Nooy also batted well for his 52 runs, with Cardinia reaching 6/259 in reply to Tooradin’s 101.
Paterson’s century included nine boundaries and two sixes, with Cardinia’s top order now in blistering form going into the finals.
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