Roos make Sharpe return

Langwarrin coach Matt Prosser was evidently pleased with his fast bowlers start to the clash against Mt Eliza. 259763. Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

By Tyler Lewis

MORNINGTON PENINSULA CRICKET ASSOCIATION

PROVINCIAL

Red-hot premiership favourite, Langwarrin, returned to the winners list on Saturday with a resounding win over Mt Eliza.

There wasn’t much to cheer about for the travelling side after skipper Tom Baron won the toss and opted to bat against the stacked Roos outfit.

Talented all-rounder Cameron Sharpe got his side off to a flying start, tumbling the Mounties to 3/7.

Mt Eliza number-three Sam Glenn managed to accumulate 43, as the Mounties managed to scramble to 7/130 from their 40 overs.

Sharpe was most certainly the pick of the bowlers, with the figures of: eight overs, two maidens, 3/21.

Numbers all the more impressive once adding he bowled eight wides too.

In reply, the Roos made light-work of the modest total, passing the mark in the 34th over at the cost of just one wicket.

That one wicket, MPCA star all-rounder Chris Brittain, who blasted 50 with seven fours before falling to the bowling of Scott Tansley.

Coach Matt Prosser boosted his average with 43 not out, while English import Ian Cockbain collected some well-needed time in the middle for his unbeaten 25.

Sorrento, meanwhile, is left licking its wounds for the second straight week after its loss to Old Peninsula on Saturday.

The Sharks have won consecutive titles, but haven’t yet to enjoy the taste of victory in its two encounters to date.

Sorrento skipper Bobby Wilson would’ve been feeling confident with his decision to bowl first when his star quick Jake Wood managed to send the in-form Dylan O’Malley back to the sheds without scoring.

But there wasn’t much for the Sharks to smile about from then on, as keeper Tom La Broy (76) and Justin Grant (74 not out) guided the Pirates to 4/186.

Despite being 0/50, the Sharks couldn’t work their way ahead of the contest, with steady wickets falling whenever a bat got set.

Opener Corey Harris top scored with 40, as the Sharks fell 62 runs shy.

Baden Powell flexed its muscles once again, with a sizzling win over the fancied Red Hill outfit.

The Braves kept the Hillmen to 132 and in reply, reeled in the target with 12 overs to spare at the loss of just one wicket.

Craig Entwistle laced 50 not out in reply, while Beau Anthony crunched 70.

In a great sign for the Braves, Travis Kellerman – who got a quick-fire 50 last week – wasn’t even required this week.

In the other match of Provincial: Long Island (10/102) fell to the flying Baxter (5/106).

PENINSULA

After suffering a heavy defeat last week, Mooroduc landed itself on the winners list, crushing Mornington.

The Ducks posted 8/183 from its 40 overs, with skipper Ben Williams passing 50 at the top of the order.

The Dogs couldn’t have the same impact with the blade, bundling out for just 102.

The bleak scorecard could’ve been a lot worse for the Dogs if it wasn’t for a knock of 25 from captain Anthony Gapes at seven who walked out to bat at 5/30.

Pines, meanwhile, sent a message to the competition with a bruising win over Somerville.

The Treemen were told to bowl first by Eagles captain Brad McDonald and did so with pleasure, tumbling the home side out for 128 on the final ball of the innings.

Ricky Ramsdale was the star for Pines, claiming 5/36, while Brenton Alp put together 45 for Somerville.

Pines opener Dan Lawrence made light-work of the total with an unbeaten 67, as Pines passed the total with seven wickets in hand in the 28th over.

A middle-order collapse didn’t halt Heatherhill on Saturday, as the Hawks secured a fantastic win over the Seaford Tigers.

At one stage the Hawks lost 5/13 after being 0/57, but it didn’t throw the steady side off on its way to posting 8/152.

Despite boasting a batting card that has plenty of Premier Cricket experience, the Tigers were castled for just 143.

Kieran Lenehand bowled brilliantly, finishing with figures 3/13 from his eight overs.

Flinders, meanwhile, stood no chance to win its match over Rosebud, after such a poor start with the bat.

In the battle of the Sharks, both Flinders openers departed without troubling the scorers and soon left its side 4/26.

Flinders managed to scramble to 102, with Sam Gove 36.

Despite being 2/14 itself, Rosebud quickly snapped into gear and from then on had no difficulty reaching the benchmark.

Kane Donald was against amongst the runs, crunching 44.

DISTRICT

Carrum Downs celebrated its first win in the District competition, overcoming Carrum.

The Lions won the toss and elected to set and with master-blaster Mark Cooper passing 50, it looked to be a stroke of genius.

But when Cooper fell for 51, the day begun to tumble for the home side, restricted to 6/144.

The Cougars batting line-up didn’t appear rattled by the task at hand, with all five batters required reaching double-figures.

Robbie Johnston was the pick of the aforementioned five, working his way to 54 not out from 88 balls.

It took until the 38th over, but the Cougars ultimately found its way ahead of the ledger, winning by seven wickets.

The Hewitt brothers had their way once against for Hastings in its triumphant win over Main Ridge.

The Blues bowled first and were set a reasonable 6/155.

In reply, Luke Hewitt made 24 (to go with his 2/19), Jake Hewitt made 26 and – youngest of the lot – Sean, made 19, as the Blues passed the required total with two overs and three wickets in the bank.

The stacked Dromana outfit fired in its clash against Delacombe Park.

The Hoppers misfired last week against Hastings, but were definitely on target this week, cruising past its opponent.

Jack Fowler (4/50) and Rueben Higgins (4/31) combined for eight of the ten wickets, as the travelling side held Delacombe Park to 129.

The Hoppers surpassed the total with seven wickets in hand and four overs to spare, Fowler and Waide Symes finished with 18 not out after opener Jedd Savage laced 44.

Crib Point, meanwhile, will need to make a swift return to the winners list, after another heavy defeat – this at the hands of Frankston YCW – suggests the Pies will be in contention for relegation.

After winning the toss and opting to bat, Matt Blake and his side couldn’t have got off to worse start with Blake being run out without troubling the scorers.

Steady wickets hurt the Pies as they could only set the Stonecats a grim 8/101.

Ben Williams – the player that ran Blake out in the early stages – was the pick of the bowlers, with 3/21.

Experience campaigner Neil Barfuss crunched 54 not out in the second innings, guiding the Stonecats to 3/104 from 26 overs.

SUB-DISTRICT

The alarm bells are beginning to ring for premiership contender, Tyabb, after the Yabbies fell to its second loss in as many weeks – this week’s courtesy of Skye.

The Yabbies, consisting of three debutants and just five players of the side that played in a grand final two matches ago, were forced to chase the visiting sides strong total of 10/189.

Sam Holland-Burch was a shining light for the home side, collecting 4/16 from his eight overs.

Yabbies keeper Rob Hearn handed the gloves to debutant Aaron Slocombe and had a bowl, where he claimed 3/12.

In reply the home side fell 40 runs short, where Skye skipper Pat Beckham claimed 2/30 to go with his 41 in the first innings.

Pearcedale, meanwhile, are all smiles, with the Dales collecting two wins in successive weeks.

The form rivals that of what has happened in recent years, where the outfit managed the same tally of wins across its last two years.

The Dales set 133, and it proved to be too many for its opponent Tootgarook who fell ten short.

In other matches across the competition: Ballam Park (10/105) fell to Rye (8/106) in a nail-biting bowlers day; Balnarring skipper Brenton Taylor’s 5/9 wasn’t enough as his side (7/149) lost by four wickets to Mt Martha (6/150) and Boneo (10/114) landed well short of Seaford’s 10/193.