One Saturday of McIntyre 1sts cricket remains before the knockout semi-finals, and precisely where teams will finish in the top four are still uncertain. Quite remarkable so late in the season.
Gisborne and Romsey are locked in an agonising tussle for top spot, with Sunbury United favoured to finish third, and fourth spot a toss-up between Sunbury Kangaroos and Woodend.
Last Saturday, Woodend knuckled down and scored 9/268 from 80 overs at home to powerhouse Gisborne to stay ‘alive’.
Can the Woodsmen find a way to inflict the first defeat of the season on the Dragons?
They will be desperate to dismiss talented run machines Riley and Jarryd Vernon cheaply, but this is easier said than done.
Gisborne, without opener Warren Kelly, will be trying to stay in top knowing reigning premiers Romsey are breathing down their neck.
Before this match, just 0.4 points separated Gisborne and Romsey, both unbeaten so far.
Woodend batters made a handy start with seven fours coming quickly from Andrew Cullen before he was dismissed for 34.
Fortunes ebbed and flowed, with young Harry Lawson top scoring with 83, skipper Marcus Stewart run out for a patient 32, and Hamish McDonald slamming a better than a run a ball 56.
The Vernons both bowled 20 overs at quite an economical rate, with Riley having the best figures of 3-51.
CATCHES COSTLY
Romsey skipper Ben Way was understandably less than enthused over his side’s bowling, and more so the uncharacteristic fielding, with seven chances going down as bottom side Diggers Rest/Bulla compiled 222 from 68.4 overs. Wickets were shared.
Attacking batter Jason Reid led the way with 76, and Romsey’s openers Milne and Jed Patterson survived to stumps and compiled a valuable 70 runs as well to set the base for a very big tally this Saturday.
Captain-coach Ben Way wants the Redbacks to ensure they win after a fright in the previous round, and he also anticipates a big push for bonus points.
Macedon is well on the way towards a final round victory, needing just 59 runs with nine wickets in hand to outpoint Rupertswood.
Sunbury United finished up with 9/266 c.c. on the board after a shaky start, and will be backing the bowlers to keep the Kangaroos at bay.
There were some easy victories across other grades, with one-day encounters and semi-finals in the thee Jensen Shield sections, as well as Club North and Club South.
The exception was an exciting tie in McIntyre 2nds, with Woodend and Gisborne each compiling 194.
In Jensen 3rds, Kyneton batters failed badly at Trentham, with just 54 runs from 29.4 overs, with Trentham now in the grand final against a formidable Melton South.
NOLTE SHINES
Malmsbury had two sides in Club North semi-finals, with David Nolte’s sterling all-round performance ensuring the Green side had an easy victory over Broadford.
Malmsbury Gold was outplayed at Hanging Rock, with ‘The Rock’ brigade after another flag.
Lancefield, despite missing the finals, showed considerable promise for the future.
Good luck to all teams that make the finals.
