By Marcus Uhe and Jonty Ralphsmith
A dramatic weekend in A grade saw the final four experience as much turbulence as the Avalon Air-Show.
A GRADE
Cardinia has spectacularly leapfrogged Tooradin on percentage to finish on top of the table at the end of the home and away season.
The Bulls needed an outright victory over Carlisle Park and for Tooradin to fall to Clyde, which is exactly what they got.
Tyson Browne’s run-a-ball 109 powered Cardinia to 2/209 before Josh Browne (4/36) and Blake Terlaak (6/32) combined to roll the Vikings for 89 in their second innings to win by an innings and 36 runs.
Tooradin, meanwhile, fell to Clyde, who in-turn sealed their position in the four.
The margin of five wickets meant Tooradin lost top spot by .0438 per cent, and will face Clyde next week as a result.
Kooweerup’s defeat of Officer saw the Demons take Officer’s place in the four.
The Bullants could only manage 100 in response to Kooweerup’s 7/273 as Thomas Cairns produced excellent figures of 4/26 from his 19 overs with nine maidens to be the standout Demons bowler.
In the dead-rubber of the week, five wickets to Kaleb Van Beek saw Pakenham roll Merinda Park for 187 to complete a 23-run win.
Cardinia will host Kooweerup next week at Cardinia Recreation Reserve while Tooradin will renew hostilities with Clyde at Carlisle Park Reserve in Cranbourne.
B GRADE
A two-wicket win by Emerald over Devon Meadows highlighted the final round of B Grade action.
Set a modest 129 for victory, Emerald appeared to be cruising when Caleb Lobbe and Anthony Flint were set at the crease.
But the pair fell in quick succession as inspired spells of bowling from skipper Mick Floyd and Callum Cavanagh brought their team back into the contest as they claimed five wickets between them.
At 8-108, Devon Meadows put itself in the driver’s seat but Sam Booth and Lawson Cocks were able to withstand the pressure and shift the momentum, remaining unbeaten to guide their club home.
Having gone at about seven an over in a rain-shortened innings last week, Tooradin was seeking an outright win to sneak into finals but fell five wickets short of bowling Pakenham Upper Toomuc out twice.
The Yabbies were never in the contest, making 173 in pursuit of 343 in the first dig as Tim Huguenin carried the Gulls with 6/54 off 20.
With 20 overs remaining to go through the hosts a second time, Huguenin was again the standout, claiming three wickets, but opening bowlers Riley Willis and Wayne Mannix, who scored a big century last week to set Tooradin up, were unable to breakthrough which made things difficult.
In Clyde’s chase of 272 against Upper Beaconsfield, Marcus Gehling did his best to hold the innings together, digging in for a well constructed and patient 108.
Unfortunately for the hosts, he was one of only three batters to pass five, and the only to pass 25 as they fell 101 runs short.
They will hope for more contributions in the semi this week against Devon Meadows; Emerald has Cranbourne Meadows in the other semi.
C GRADE
Pakenham easily accounted for Officer by five wickets, having established a solid foundation last week on the back of an excellent bowling performance.
An early collapse of 3/32 did not prove fatal as the Lions reached the total of 102 in the 35th over to secure first place.
At Toomuc Reserve, Devon Meadows was made to grind its way to Cardinia’s total of 112, thanks to a six-wicket haul to legendary CCCA spinner Dwayne Doig.
The Panthers were unable to build partnerships as Doig took the first five wickets of their innings on his way to 6/46 from 31 overs, but eventually reached the total eight wickets down.
NNG/Maryknoll’s defeat of Lang Lang by 126 runs saw them jump Officer into second place.
The Marygoons will face Officer in a semi final this week while Pakenham and Devon Meadows will battle it out for the other spot in the grand final.
D GRADE
Officer skipper Steve Pursell continued his consistent season with the blade, scoring an unbeaten 96 as the Bullants were set an ominous 245 for victory.
He showed intent and ran hard between the wickets throughout his innings as he came in after a tight spell of opening bowling had Kooweerup controlling the contest.
Opener Matthew Lucas also passed 50 for Officer but was tied down at times as Kooweerup built pressure which led to the consistent fall of wickets and saw Officer fall 41 runs short.
Clyde’s clash with Emerald provided one of the more remarkable score lines you’re likely to see.
Needing a near-impossible 364, skipper Josh Spittal, batting at three, scored a spirited century.
He just didn’t receive any help at the other end!
Both openers were dismissed for ducks, as were Clyde’s four, five and six in the batting order, leaving them at 5/16.
He continued to fight and scored 103 of his club’s 144 runs with just 23 runs coming off the bat of his teammates.
A five-wicket haul to Alex Barbour caused the early collapse and set the game up for Emerald.
Four wickets to Michael Griffiths in the other D Grade game helped Pakenham to a 125-run win over Cardinia.
Pakenham sees Kooweerup in this week’s semi while Emerald meets Officer.
E GRADE
Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll recovered from 3/4 to make a fist of its run-chase against Pakenham Upper Toomuc.
David Gibbs dug in for a well-made 46 and led the resuscitating fourth-wicket 70-run partnership with Cameron Watts but Pakenham Upper Toomuc, led by six Ryan Yeates wickets, proved too good to overcome.
Meanwhile, Tooradin used nine bowlers to overcome Pakenham by 102 runs and Lang Lang defeated Officer by three wickets.
The Gulls face Lang Lang this week while Pakenham square off against Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll.
F GRADE
Upper Beaconsfield’s 137 run defeat of Pakenham has ensured they will participate in finals action this season.
They’ll play Devon Meadows, who successfully chased Merinda Park’s total of 302 with two wickets remaining.
Leigh Smith made 137 not out for Merinda Park, but it was to no avail.
Merinda Park will look to bounce-back against Kooweerup in the other semi final contest.
