Top team Woodend and premiership aspirant Romsey made sure of avoiding upset losses in the second last home and away round of McIntyre 1sts cricket on Saturday.
Both stepped up with the bal land in the field to snuff out challenges from Rupertswood and Broadford.
Reigning premiers Gisborne made a mammoth 425 as various batters tuned up for the semi-finals, and there were several hard-hitting centuries scored across the various grades.
Macedon import Alex Browne hammered 112 off 100 balls at Tony Clarke Reserve to give Sunbury United a scare.
In Jensen 1sts, top sides Lancefield and Riddell had comfortable wins, and clash in the grand final at Lancefield this Saturday.
Jensen 2nds produced two thrilling semi-finals, with Rupertswood and Malmsbury scraping home against respective valiant opponents in Romsey and Hanging Rock.
Adam Sutherland made 100 for Rupertswood, then Dan Leach’s whirlwind 86 almost got Romsey over the line.
NEW BALL STRIKES
Harry Sheahan and Joe Monk struck with the new ball for Woodend openers to dismiss both Rupertswood Broadford openers for ‘ducks’.
Defending 205 became much easier, and all-rounder Warren Else proved to be a matchwinner by capturing 5-42 from 20 overs to go with his top score of 54.
Cameron Bruce made 51 in Rupertswood’s disappointing 113.
Woodend then rattled up 3/160 in the second innings, with coach Josh Eastley making a belligerent 116 (15 fours, seven sixes) in just 61 balls.
Defending 227, Romsey shut Broadford’s batters down effectively.
It was only an eighth-wicket stand of 80 between James Ingham and 52 and Riley Nolan 48 that worried the Redbacks. The home side was bowled out for 174, with Jamie Taylor 4-27 again proving his worth.
In the second innings, Romsey compiled a quick 3/115 from 16 overs, with Ben Way and Taylor Stevenson among the runs.
At Tony Clarke Reserve, Macedon’s hopes of causing a major upset rested with Browne,who fell for 112 with the score at 147.
James Hughes claimed 4-60.
Skipper Gareth De Rosayro made an unbeaten 66 and Cam Howlett 30 with the last wicket falling at 286, just 16 runs in arrears of United.
Gisborne’s huge 425 was highlighted by 83 from all-rounder Josh Wills 83, 74 from free-scoring Riley Vernon, and 71 from opener Warren Kelly.
Evergreen Brendon Hanson rescued Wallan with 164 in a high scoring Johnstone 1sts match against Diggers Rst/Bulla, Steve Gray made an unbeaten 105 as Sunbury United defeated Macedon in McIntyre 2nds.
ALL THE SCORES
A summary of scores from Gisborne District Cricket Association matches on Saturday follows:
McIntyre Cup 1sts: Woodend 205 and 3/160 d Rupertswood 113; Sunbury United 7/302 c.c. D Macedon 286; Sunbury Kangaroos 172 lost to Gisborne 425; Romsey 227 and 3/115 d Broadford 174.
McIntyre 2nds: Romsey 349 d Broadford 9/137; Woodend 188 lost to Rupertswood 8/189; Macedon 7/228 c.c. Lost to unbury United 2/229.
Johnstone 1sts: Eastern Hill 9/204 c.c. d East Sunbury 109 and 4/38; ; Eynesbury 9/181 c.c. lost to Aintree 6/270; Diggers Rest/Bulla 241 lost to Wallan 7/340.
Johnstone 2nds: Eastern Hill 9/262 lost to East Sunbury 7/263, Eynesbury 115 lost to Aintree 6/210; Diggers Rest/Bulla 305lost to Wallan 5/309.
Jensen 1sts semi-finals: Rupertswood 7/145 c.c. Lost to Lancefield 4/146; Riddell 5/216 d Harkness 185.
Jensen 2nds semi-finals: Rupertswood 6/228 d Romsey 225; Hanging 9/167 lost to Malmsbury 6/171.
Jensen 3rds semi-finals: Woodend 5/230 d Melton Centrals 163; Melton South 71 lost to Sunbury Kangaroos 7/74.
Club North semi-finals: Gisborne 7/141 d Malmsbury 108; Lancefield 5/266 d Woodend 9/173.
Club South semi-finals: Sunbury United 147 lost to Rupertswood 163; Harkness 9/213 c.c. D Riddell 6/160.
