From a batting viewpoint, three of the outstanding McIntyre Cup players made centuries in the final home and away round on Saturday.
Rupertswood skipper Matt Twentyman rescued his side from an early collapse, facing 210 balls and making 148 in a team score of 243 against Sunbury United. This century followed on from his match-winning 157 against Wallan.
The other centurians were ‘regulars’ — Gisborne leader Jarryd Vernon knocked up 142 from 210 balls against Macedon after the Dragons had slumped to 3-20.
A big fourth-wicket rescue mission with Riley Vernon 55 was followed by a sixth-wicket stand with Warren Kelly who contributed 47.
A tally of 303 gives Gisborne a launching pad to try to secure enough points to regain top place from Woodend.
This may depend on how Woodend fare against third-placed Romsey after scoring a healthy 290 spearheaded by exactly 100 from captain Marcus Stewart.
On the bowling front, Macedon all-rounder Cameron Clayton finished with a commendable 6-56 from 24 overs.
Sunbury United need to score 244 to play finals again, with veteran bat Upul Fernando needing more help than usual to achieve this target.
Bottom place in McIntyre Cup is still open, with Broadford recovering from an early collapse to make 168 against Wallan. The Magpies slumped to 4/30 by stumps, and it’s anyone’s match.
WEEKEND SEMI-FINALS
There’s GDCA semi-finals in Johnstone 1sts and 2nds, and McIntyre 2nds this weekend.
Powerhouse flag favourite Eastern Hill will be at home to Kilmore in Johnstone 1sts, and the other semi-final is between Diggers Rest and Sunbury Kangaroos.
McIntyre 2nds semi-finals are Woodend v Romsey, and Rupertswood v Sunbury United.
Johnstone 2nds semi-finalists are Eastern Hill v East Sunbury, and Eynesbury v Diggers Rest.
ALL SATURDAY’S SCORES
Mcintyre Cup 1sts: Woodend 290 (M. Stewart 100, J. Eastley 48, H. McDonald 38, O. Price 36 — A. Paterson 3-16, L. Moor 3-37) v Romsey; Gisborne 303 (J. Vernon 142, R. Vernon 55, W. Kelly 47 — C. Clayton 6-56) v Macedon; Rupertswood 243 (M. Twentyman 148, J. Boulton 24 — P. Kiriella 3-40) v Sunbury United; Broadford 168 (S. Sharma 43, J. Nolan 30, J. Connell 23 — J. Mullavey-Clark 3-18, S. O’Donnell 3-34) v Wallan 4-30 (T. Shell 2-1).
Johnstone 1sts: Lancefield 149 (L. Mitchell 44, M. Mclean 25 — D. Rodger 3-23, E. Long 3-31) lost to Diggers Rest 5/150 (Long 45, T. Krizanic 43, C. Hammond-Collins 29 n.o. — A. Richardt 3-30; Kilmore 143 (D. Tassone 46, R. Quinert 42 — PP 3-13) lost to Sunbury Kangaroos 6/146 (PP 58, M. Green 34, S. Barry 28 ); Eastern Hill 8/198 (D. Fulco 89, B. Cox 22) d Eynesbury 67 ( J. Davis 27 — B. Bryant 4-13, N. Fowler 3-35); Harkness 9/322 c.c. (G. Grewal 141, M. Aujla 84, R. Dhawan 26 — C. Nelson 4-55, J. Patel 4-72) d East Sunbury 8/287 (N. Dent 82, L. Wilkins 65, J. Nelson 58).
McIntyre 2nds: Woodend 5/170 c.c. (H. Ingleton 62, X. Tadd 40 n.o., O. Watt 37) d Romsey 107 (M. Hoyt 56 — Ingleton 3-9, G. Matthews 3-11); Rupertswood 8/144 (W. Bond 49, W. Honner 25 — J. Newman 3-29) d Sunbury United 7/142 (A. Billinghurst 39, S. Grey 30); Gisborne 6/208 (S. Shaw 89, R. Scott 45, J. Brown 41 n.o.) d Macedon 6/165 (I. Bobetic 62 n.o., E. Rayner 54); Broadford 9/160 (S. Sharma 66, C. Ball 27, C. Stute 24 — B. Funnell 3-24, D. Bishop 3-25) lost to Wallan 2/164 (B. Regan 92 n.o., T. Jeffs 32 n.o., B. Fowler 23).
Johnstone 2nds: Eastern Hill 6/164 (P. Speechley 46 n.o., R. Grant 24) drew Eynesbury 8/164 (J. Tardrew 42 n.o., J. Psaila 34, T. Beasley 27, C. Mclaughlin 26 — O. Fulton 4-23); Lancefield 70 (C. Goforth 6-18) lost to Diggers Rest 3/76 (K. Beaumont 50 n.o.); Sunbury Kangaroos 8/129 (P. Singh 53, J. McIntosh 25) lost to Kilmore 3/131 (R. Audehm 43, T. Hede 31, R. Callaghan 20 n.o.); East Sunbury won on forfeit from Harkness.
GRAND FINALS
Jensen Shield: Rupertswood 71 (B. Marshall 18 — L. Castle 3-8, T. Wadden 3-15) lost to Riddell 2/72 (P. Cashen 36 n.o., H. Fisher 18 n.o).
Jensen 3rds: Melton 97 (G. Boon 40 — T. Springfield 3-24, N. Batra 3-29) lost to Melton South (3) 2/99 (K. Rajendran 51 n.o., S. Lowe 27).
Club North: Broadford 6/154 c.c. (A. Culpin 52 ret., J. Walsh 20) d Malmsbury Green 92 (C. Ganim 26 — Culpin 4-36, M. Egan 3-15).
Club South: Melton Centrals 75 (R. Singh 22 n.o. — M. Furnell 3-10, M. Anderson 3-27) lost to Sunbury United 3/77 (K. Dhanjal 35 n.o., G. George 21).
