Round 14 of McIntyre Cup 1sts cricket begins this Saturday, and the outcome will decide the positions of the four semi-finalists.
Rupertswood (fourth) play Sunbury United (fifth) at Salesian College, with the winner advancing and the loser missing out.
It’s big incentive for Rupo to make the top grade finals for the first time, and captain Matt Twentyman is in top form, having made a match-winning 157 in round 13.
On the other hand, United is a regular finalist and would be disappointed if fifth spot was the best this strong club could do.
Woodend (1st) play Romsey (3rd) at Romsey, while reigning premier Gisborne go to Macedon knowing there is a chance to snatch top place.
McIntyre Cup positions are:
Woodend …. 85.14 pts
Gisborne … 80.23
Romsey …. 75.97
Rupertswood …. 64.93
Sun. United ….62.79
Macedon …. 61.36
Wallan …. 42.65
Broadford …. 36.98
RILEY RUNS RIOT
The second day of round 13 was highlighted by a masterful unbeaten century by Gisborne batting dynamo Riley Vernon.
Coming to the crease at 5/51 with 104 runs still needed for victory against bottom side Broadford, Vernon scored 100 not out from just 82 balls (nine fours, three sixes).
The home side could not contain him, and the sixth wicket stand of 92 in company with Matt Barake 27 rescued the Dragons.
Very heavy rain and some hail slowed ground surfaces down, and sides with runs on the board found it easier to defend their positions than usual.
Sunbury United was forced well behind the required run rate at Langama Park, and in-form spinner Tom Robson captured 5-68 in a marathon spell for the Woodsmen.
Only Upul Fernando 68 and Lain Sherlock — run out for 42 — got among the runs in a final tally of 173.
Macedon batters struggled at Romsey and never looked likely to threat the Redbacks, who were then bowled out for 80 in a short second innings.
Wallan was confined to 120 runs from 75.3 overs by Rupertswood’s attack in the remaining match.
The highest individual score was 108 not out by Sunbury Kangaroos captain Corey Woolley against Harkness.
Round 14 McIntyre Cup matches are Woodend v Romsey, Macedon v Gisborne, Rupertswood v Sunbury United, and Broadford v Wallan.
ALL THE SCORES
McIntyre Cup 1sts: Woodend 241 d Sunbury United 173 (U. Fernando 68, L. Sherlock 42 — T. Robson 5-68, H. McDonald 2-5); Broadford 153 lost to Gisborne 8/214 (R. Vernon 100 n.o., M. Barake 27 — R. Nolan 4-68); Rupertswood 251 and 3/36 d Wallan 120 (A. Moore 31, Z. Bell 29 — K. Barker 3-35); Romsey 262 and 80 (E. Ferguson 4-35, H. Bobetic 3-9) d Macedon 147 (G. De Rosayro 31 — C. Day 3-18).
Johnstone 1sts: Kilmore 223 d Diggers Rest 94 (N. Crosland 37 — J. Walton 4-8, S. Partridge 3-30) and 4/119 (J. Grant 51 n.o.; Eynesbury 116 lost to Lancefield 8/138 (A. Sinclair 32 n.o., L. Mitchell 27 — I. Ghazni 4-52); Eastern Hill 7/312 d East Sunbury 116 (L. Williams 29 — B. Bryant 4-28) and 5/75; Harkness 117 and 114 (V. Veer 34, M. Aujla 32 — P. Singh 5-52, PP 3-7) lost to Sunbury Kangaroos 8/269 dec. (C. Woolley 108 n.o., PP 63, J. Ballinger 42 — Veer 6-54.
McIntyre 2nds: Sunbury United 84 lost to Woodend 7/87 (H. Ingleton 40 n.o. — T. Cummings 4-23); Broadford 8/168 drew with Gisborne (no play second day); Wallan 8/212 lost to Rupertswood 7/216 (N. Powell 45, B. Robinson 41 ret.); Macedon 152 drew with Romsey (abandoned).
Johnstone 2nds: East Sunbury 80 lost to Eastern Hill 9/130 (J. Speechley 33 n.o. — J. Dent 3-29, S. Barooh 3-46); Eynesbury 242 d Lancefield 84 D. Mallia-Hogan 36 — C. Mclaughlin 3-15, Z. Micallef 3-17) and 2/49; Kilmore 116 lost to Diggers Rest 4/129 (C. Goforth 60); Harkness forfeited to Sunbury Kangaroos.
SEMI-FINAL RESULTS
Jensen Shield semi-finals: Hanging Rock 112 (J. Smith 41 — L. Castle 4-23) lost to Riddell 3/113 (H. Castle 43, P. Cashen 32); Rupertswood 264 (Z. Borg 65, B. Marshall 54, B. Van der
Heuvel 46 — M. Palmer 4-31) d Romsey 180 (C. Armstrong 71, S. Day 40 — J. Lane 3-31, Borg 3-43).
Jensen 3rds semi-finals: Aintree 58 (T. Springfield 4-18) lost to Melton South 3/62 (S. Lowe 29); Riddell 8/148 (B. Goodman 44, M. Day 33 — K. Wimalaratna 3-15) lost to Melton 4/152 (J. Schware 48 n.o., R. Mann 34).
Club North semi-finals: Woodend 9/162 (35 overs) D. Edwards 49, G. McDonald 31, C. Cairns 25 n.o, R. Cairns 24 — C. Knott 3-25) lost to Malmsbury Green 8/163 (C. Ganim 54 n.o., B. Terbeeke 50 ret. — G. Davies 4-15); Malmsbury Gold 9/109 (J. Mooney 45 n.o. — A. Withers 3-29) lost to Broadford 1/110 (K. Redenbach 48 n.o., A. Pope 35 n.o.).
Club South semi-finals: Melton South 129 (A. Yates 60 — S. Singh 5-18) lost to Melton Centrals 5/133 (N. Brar 40, A. Singh 32 — M. Hussain 3-20); Sunbury United 8/147 (J. Ellis 52 ret., M. Anderson 32) d Rupertswood 82 (S. Ellis 4-17).
GRAND FINALS
Grand finals this Saturday are:
Riddell v Rupertswood (Jensen Shield), Melton South v Melton (Jensen 3rds), Malmsbury Green v Broadford (Club North) and Melton South v Sunbury United (Club South).
