By Lachlan Mitchell
MPCA Round 10
PROVINCIAL
Saturday and Sunday were both needed to make up for a washed out round one.
Baden Powell would be counting there lucky stars after a narrow win over Red Hill with six overs to spare.
The Hillers would have felt like they still left runs on the pitch after being sent into bat and making a very handy 229 with a Luke Robertson (114 not out) masterclass at the top order anchoring the mammoth total.
Red Hill only lost one wicket and was under the pump early in the field after another Beau Anthony (75) stand at the top of the order saw ladder leaders Baden Powell grab the victory.
Langwarrin held Mt Eliza to 90 as they held on for a nervy six-wicket win…opener Taylor Smith (52) held his bat to steady the ship.
Old Peninsula and Sorrento put on over 400 in a high-scoring chase. Sorrento won the toss and sent the Pirates in with Justin Grant (69) continued his strong season form.
Sorrento looked in control with Liam O’Connor (65) and Corey Harris (58) at the crease but a late flow of wickets saw Sorrento lose by an agonising five runs.
The Sunday fixture of results saw a lot of expected outcomes.
Old Peninsula cruised their way to victory as they easily accounted for Baxter by 47 runs.
Langwarrin continued their fight to hold onto second place after a four-wicket win, with Matthew Prosser (83) putting in a match-winning performance to hold off Long Island.
Sorrento and Red Hill played out a low scoring affair at David Macfarlane Reserve. A Simon Dart 72 helping Red Hill limp to 135. A Leigh Janssen five-wicket haul wasn’t enough to see Sorrento over the line. Hiller’s bowler Lincoln Toy taking 3/12 as he helped Red Hill to a 33-run win.
Mt.Eliza fell just short of Baden Powell’s target of 178 and not even a Nick Strickland 49 could get the job done. Baden Powell holding on to win by nine runs.
PENINSULA
Lips were salivating when a top-of-the-table clash between Somerville and the Pines headlined action on Saturday.
The Pines were looking to hold onto top spot and continue to extend the gap between them and the rest of the competition.
The ladder leaders started strongly putting on 53 for the first wicket stand but continued to lose wickets at regular intervals limiting their score to 182.
A top of the order Brenton Alps 88 met with plenty of resistance from Damien Lawrence snaring 4/32.
Somerville winning by one wicket with three overs to spare.
Flinders made light work of Rosebud running out 119-run victors. Sam Gove proved his worth at the top of the order making 107 to crucify the bottom-placed Buds.
Seaford was no match for Heatherhill with a Joseph Rule 51 helping the Hills to a seven-wicket win.
Moorooduc won a clincher by four runs after a Shane Hockey (71) couldn’t drag Mornington over the line.
On Sunday Seaford defeated Mornington by two wickets to see the Tigers on the brink of the finals.
Heatherhill fell short of the Pines 187 after a Harley Peace-Stirling 85 proved too much for the Hawks.
Moorooduc defeated Rosebud by four wickets in a low scoring affair at home.
Flinders put on 211 after a Kane Hawkins 122 proved a bridge too far for Somerville winning by 29 runs.
DISTRICT
Frankston YCW was blown out of the water by Carrum Downs on Sunday after the Cougars posted 157.
The ‘Lillee and Thomson’ like duo of Shane Deal (4/13) and Jordan Watters (4/18) was enough to see the Stonecats dismissed for 63.
Carrum was the biggest winners rolling home by 10 wickets against Delacombe Park in what could be finals match up.
Dromana reassured every one of the contender status as they knocked off Main Ridge by 63 runs in a dominant performance.
Hastings hosted Crib Point at Thomas Barclay Oval, with a Benjamin Schofield 55 not enough to see the hosts over the line.
Saturday cricket provided its fair share of entertainment with the Stonecats bouncing back against Crib Point.
Main Ridge found some form against Hastings with Gareth Wyatt (66*) helping to guide the Cougars home.
The battle of the Carrum’s was dominated by a Scott Boland-eske effort from Jordan Watters 6/7 who dominated the bowling to dismiss Carrum for 128.
Carrum Downs batting performance left much to be desired after being dismissed for 112 with a Ryan Lynch (50) being the only standout on a disappointing day.
Dromana hosted Delacombe Park on a batters paradise at home on Saturday. Adam Ciavarella (67) helping the Grasshoppers to 185
Delacombe Park lost opener Ben Walker early and it was left up to Ashley Walker and Joel Malcolm to steady the middle order and drive the Grasshoppers home.
SUB DISTRICT
Pearcedale could only manage 133 against Skye even after another masterful knock from Blake Eklund (57). Gurpreet Gopy was the protagonist to the Pearcedale innings take 4/23.
Skye made light work of the total with Pawan Thind (68) helping the Kookaburras to a eight-wicket win.
Boneo got the job done against Tyabb with a Stewart Mathieson (53) fifty not enough to see the Pandas over the line.
Ladder leaders Seaford were tested but eventually prevailed against Mt Martha winning by 14 runs.
Rye proved too strong for Balnarring winning by two wickets.
Tootgarook opener Travis French’s match winning 71 was enough to see them chase down Ballam Park’s 154 with 11 overs to spare.
The rescheduled round-one fixture, pushed to Sunday, saw some very foreseeable results shape in the run to finals.
Tyabb left Pearcedale in their wake as they won by 120 run at Bunguyan Reserve with Lachlan Hose 4/26 helping dismiss Pearcedale for 71.
Rye couldn’t manage to chase Tootgarook’s 168 even after a Jordan Blades 58, the Demons falling 24 runs shy of the total.
Skye needed all cannons firing as they chased down 207 against Seaford.
The Tigers Ryan McQueen channelled the great escape as he put on 90.
Skye looked in trouble losing opener Azhar Zeeshan early but a 136-partnership between Jasmeet Virdi (78) and Ishtiaq Ahmed (69) helped the Burra’s to a three-wicket win.
Mt Martha could only conjure 127 as it hosted Ballam Park at Ferrero Reserve.
Brad Turner (40) was the only shining light after a less than impressive showing.
Ballam Park opener Pradeep De Silva (89) helped guide the visitors home by eight wickets.
Ballnaring and Boneo played a low-scoring thriller. The Saints won the toss and elected to bat, the Panda’s very own Sean Spencer took 2/13 to help limit the impact to 114.
Boneo looked in control and quickly fell to 4/66 and continued to make the job harder for themselves.
The last four wickets fell for just four runs as Boneo missed the opportunity to go two from two on the weekend. The Panda’s falling four runs short of victory.
