By Lachlan Mitchell
PROVINCIAL
Mt Eliza found a way to win and halt any chance that Baxter had of making finals.
The Mounties could only conjure up a modest total, with Christopher Wisbey (50) helping the away side to 136 in their 40 overs.
Baxter opener Daniel Warwick (64) then looked to get his side home single-handedly, before Scott Tansley took matters into his own hands, snaring 3/22, and helping restrict Baxter to 126.
Mt Eliza snuck home by 10 runs.
Red Hill pulled a rabbit out of the-hat when it surprised Old Peninsula away from-home.
The Pirates posted 201 which included a Wade Pelzer 78.
Red Hill started strongly with opener Luke Robertson (91) making the chase look like child’s play. Robertson and old reliable Simon Dart helped their side over the line off the final ball.
Sorrento didn’t come to play when they took on Langwarrin at David Macfarlane Reserve. The Kangaroos posted 178 which included a Matthew Prosser 78, with Sharks-bowler Jake Wood taking 3/47 in an effort to limit the damage.
Sorrento looked out of the contest early falling to 2/10. The task seemed almost impossible when Jedd Flack fell for 20. Travis Campbell then took 2/14 and helped clean up the home side for 90 runs on a less than impressive day.
Long Island’s game against Baden Powell was the only game which couldn’t go ahead due to the conditions.
PENINSULA
Ladder-leader Pines made light work of cellar-dwellers Rosebud, with opener Connor Jackson (54) getting his finals groove back at the pointy end of the season.
The home-side finished up on 161 from 26 overs. Rosebud didn’t make its job easy losing 2/18 before a collapse saw them bundled out for 97.
Harley Peace-Stirling stole the show with the ball snaring 2/14 in his side’s 64-run win.
Heatherhill doodled over Mornington at Bruce Park.
Mornington, who finished the season just outside the top four, won the toss and elected to bat.
Jake Theobald was at his formidable best taking 4/13 as he helped dismiss the away side for just 88. Mornington looked like they could defend the meager total when Cameron Moon dismissed Matthew Bishop for zero. Unfortunately that’s where the excitement stopped for the away side.
Jake Williams (52) and Kristian Miller (33) were able to re-align co-ordinates to get their team home with nine wickets to spare.
The Seaford and Flinders match at Belvedere Reserve was abandoned after a wet-outfield saw both sides share the points.
Somerville fine-tuned its performance with an eight-wicket win over Moorooduc. Benjamin Williams (67) helped the Ducks post the 199 target. Brenton Alp (88) got his form back after missing out last week.
Leigh Lowry (81) then held his nerve to guide his team home.
DISTRICT
Hastings and Carrum drew the short straw with their game at Thomas Barclay Oval called off due to the torrential down-pour.
Frankston YCW made fans happy when they surprised fourth placed Delacombe Park.
The Stonecats would have thought that their 115 target would have been well-below par.
Frankston found themselves on the receiving end of a Max Sherry onslaught as he finished with figures of 3/18.
Delacombe Park would have thought the chase would be a cake-walk, but Neil Barfuss (2/4) and Sam Fulton (3/6) worked in tandem to dismiss the home side for 77.
The Stonecats finishing their season with a 38-run win.
Main Ridge and Crib Point played a match for something bigger than sheep-stations, pride on the line, as both sides finish outside the top four.
Crib Point elected to bat in overcast conditions and made a very respectable 190 at Ditterich Reserve.
Main Ridge didn’t go themselves any favours as they emulated an England style batting collapse.
The Magpies only needed an arsenal of four bowlers to send Main Ridge packing for 79 in just 24 overs. Not even Admiral Nelson could save the Cougars as they fell 111 runs short.
A possible grand-final preview played out at Dromana Reserve, when the Grasshoppers proved that they are deserved minor-premiers with a six-wicket win over Carrum Downs.
Carrum Down’s unstoppable opener Gordon Waterfall (54) helped the Cougars to set a 144-run target.
Dromana reaching the target in 33 overs with Kyle Voelkl holding-his-bat at the top of the order to rein in the target.
SUB DISTRICT
Skye and Seaford were happy to share the points as rain halted play. Both sides will be featuring in finals next week with Seaford sitting comfortably on top.
Tyabb, who was also vying for a first-place finish, got the points against Pearcedale away from home. The Yabbies won the toss and elected to bat, as Bradley Trotter worked his magic as he finished with figures of 4/11.
Pearcedale would have thought they were on-top chasing 116, but any hopes of an upset-win against one of the premiership fancies were quickly extinguished by Lachlan Hose as he finished with 4/27.
Pearcedale fell 42-runs shy of the total ending its season on a low-point.
Mt Martha opener Chris Holcombe (47) saved his side from embarrassment against Ballam Park. Holcombe found himself in dire straits when his side crumbled to 2/1.
The opener and number-six Simon Street (38) helped their side out of a dark alley to a 177 total.
Ballam Park found itself on the end of a Tim Bateman demolition derby as he took 4/23. The Knights having their armour dented…all out for 130.
Boneo and Balnarring played out a dead-rubber with both sides missing finals, The Panda’s posted 257 on a less than perfect Melbourne Day.
Balnarring could only conjure 180 in reply losing by 77 runs.
Rye must have thought it was Nightmare On Truemans Road when it faced third-placed Tootgarook away from home.
The Demons were playing the role of the tortoise, when they were slow and steady making 100 in 40 overs.
Tootgarook had an early stumble when both openers fell cheaply. Anthony Craddock (34) lowered his anchor and steadied the ship.
Craddock and his side reached the total in 31 overs.
