SUB-DISTRICT
BALNARRING is a real chance to seal a place in the MPCA Sub District finals after knocking over Tyabb on Saturday.
The Saints are currently in sixth place on the ladder, equal on 54 points with fifth-placed Tyabb and just a game behind Tootgarook (66 points), which holds fourth place.
Hastings is sitting pretty at the top of the table on 110 points and will host a home final, regardless of the result of its final game.
Ballam Park (84 points), despite being smashed by Hastings on Saturday, will definitely hold its place in the top four, while Frankston YCW is currently in third place with 78 points.
It’s all going to come down to the final match of the season, a one-dayer this Saturday to determine the make-up of the four.
Tootgarook will host Hastings and must win to book its place. If the Frogs win, they make the finals and Tyabb and Balnarring can’t possibly make it.
However, should Tootgarook lose, the Saints and Yabbies are still alive. Balnarring host Carrum Downs while Tyabb has a much tougher assignment against Frankston YCW. The Yabbies have a much better percentage than both Balnarring and Tootgarook.
Whilst the season has been very unpredictable this season, logic says Hastings beats Tootgarook and YCW beats Tyabb, leaving Balnarring to beat the Cougars and come from nowhere to grab fourth place.
Balnarring pulled off a sensational victory against Tyabb, which has kept them right in it.
Chasing 148 for victory, the Yabbies were cruising as we entered day two, resuming at 2/59.
However, Geoff Bradshaw had a purple patch for the Saints, snared 4/35 from 15 overs and together with Brenton Taylor (2/15 from 10.2 overs), rolled the Yabbies for 137.
YCW made hard work of getting the 133 needed for victory against Carrum, eventually getting there with not a wicket in hand.
Batting at 11, Sam Fulton came to the crease with the score at 9/114 after watching his side lose 4/1 and go from 5/113 to 9/114. Matthew Black (29no) was at the other end.
Fulton hit two fours and a six in his 18 to help his side not only win the game but win comfortably by 31 runs.
Luke Hewitt snared 4/21 off 15.2 overs to go with his 99 with the bat and Isuru Dias claimed 4/24 off nine overs to help Hastings smash second-placed Ballam Park. Defending a massive 9/318, Hastings zipped through the Knights, which made just 118.
Stuart Plunkett top scored for the Knights with 27 and David Cross got 24. The next best was 11 and there lays the issue with Ballam Park. If Plunkett and Cross don’t make runs, then the team is vulnerable.
Tootgarook successfully defended its 7/326 against Carrum Downs, bowling them out for 179.
AJ King was at his best for the Frogs with 4/33 from 20 overs, while Cougars skipper Ryan Lynch top scored with 56.
First published in the Mornington News – 28 February 2017
