T20 finalists all but set
Warragul and District Cricket Association played out the second round of its T20 competition on Tuesday last, with top teams pressing home their advantage in the top grades.
The top teams in A, B and C grades recorded their second wins to maintain a clear advantage at the top of their respective ladders and book themselves a place in the T20 finals.
The Dgrade competition is proving an even affair, with all four sides posting one win from two rounds.
The final round will be played on Tuesday, January 16 with finals to follow on Sunday, January 21.
A grade
Neerim District 4/144 def Buln Buln 6/142 Several cameos from Buln Buln’s top and middle order proved not enough as Neerim District successfully chased down their target in the 19th over.
Jack Paull, Rhys Holdsworth, Reece Campbell, Max Kelly and Corey Jagoe all got past 20, while a run-a-ball 16 to Jack Armour at the top of the order also helped the Lyrebirds post a competitive total of 6/142.
Wickets were shared for Neerim District, led by Aaron Fawcett and Kody Wilson with two apiece.
While Buln Buln made a positive start with early wickets to Jackson Noonan and Thomas Park, Neerim District steaded with Nathan Bayne (47) and Jackson Ward (52*) able to form partnerships.
Bailey George (14) and Aaron Fawcett (21*) offered good support to see the Stags home in the 19th over. Western Park 6/157 def Longwarry 108 A strong performance with both bat and ball helped carry Western Park to a comfortable victory over Longwarry.
After losing Tyler McMillan early, Sam Batson (47), Adam Feltham (44) and Zane Harper (34) steadied only to fall short of half centuries.
With the Warriors on track for a big score, Tom Keily and Liam Quarrell returned to the attack to take late wickets, restricting the Warriors to 6/157 and give the Crows some hope.
However the Crows run chase failed to reach similar heights thanks to a four-wicket hall to Joel Batson.
Keily top scored with 20 as the Crows were bowled out for 108.
B grade
Ellinbank 7/144 def Drouin 142 The match between Ellinbank and Drouin went to the wire, with the Ellinbank batters holding their nerve to pass the Hawks’ total in the final over.
Early wickets to Damon Healy (3/26) and Simon Gardiner (2/19) had the Eagles on the backfoot in the chase but twin 42s to Brad Berry and Michael Pandolfo put Ellinbank back in the hunt.
Nicholas Fairbank and Stan Harrison found support from Lachlan Pratt to guide the Eagles home in the final over of the match.
Earlier, Healy (48) and Chris Gardiner (30) helped the Hawks post a competitive total of 142.
Stan Harrison (3/12) and Jeremy Gray (2/7) bowled well at the death as the Hawks lost their final three wickets for just three runs, opening the door for a successfulEllinbank chase. Hallora 7/170 def Jindivick 9/86 Hallora ran out convincing winners over Jindivick.
A 35-ball half centiry to Sam Whibley (seven fours and one six) set the tone as Hallora posted 7/170.
James Vela, Ryan Williams and Fraser Duncan all past 20 in support.
Christian Stacey was pick of the bowlers for Jindivick, returning the figures of 3/31.
The Jumping Jacks struiggled in reply, with only Nicholas Hume (18) reaching double figures before a final wicket salvo between Luke Hume (12*) and Stacey (26*) added some respectability to the final score.
Grant Duncan (3/6 from four) and Brett Williams (2/7 from three) were particularly miserly for the Kangaroos.
C grade
Yarragon 5/122 def Garfield-Tynong 5/118 A unbeaten half-century from Gamini Kumara helped Yarragon successfully chase down Garfield-Tynong’s total of 5/118.
While Adam Mazza raced to a 25-ball 29, the Titans hit back with regular wickets but could do nothing to stop the might of Kumara, who finished unbeaten on 61 from just 35 balls.
Earlier, Craig Cousin (38) and Grant Pearson (29) helped the Titans to a total that proved about 20-runs short.
Kumara capped a strong performance with two wickets. Blackbridge 5/208 def Warragul 9/127 Blackbirdge continued their dominance with the bat to set up a big win over Warragul.
Paul Bridges-Black blasted an unbeaten 101 (five fours and 11 sixes), while Wilson Pollock chipped in with 64 (five sixes) to help Blackbridge to the mammoth total of 5/208.
Amendeep Singh did his best to stem the flow with 2/31 from four as Warragul threw the ball to nine players amidst the onslsught.
Warragul battled to 9/127 in reply, led by Tyler Hogan (46)with support from Paul Singh (24) and Daniel Best (21).
Blackbridge also shared the bowling around, with Jacob Bardwell the multiple wicket taker.
D grade
Drouin 5/143 def Western Park 7/135 Drouin took the points in a competitive match with Western Park.
Sam Cheeseman scored 55 from 44 balls, while Stephen Briggs scored a-run-a-ball 36 to help the Warriors post a competitive total of 7/135.
Gavin Mills was pick of the bowlers for Drouin with 3/28.
Thirty-two from Rhys Fairlie set the Hawks on their way after a shaky start, before a half century from Brad Glover (57) put the Hawks within striking distance.
Robert Simpson finished unbeaten on 29 to see the Hawks home in the final over.
Joel Batson had applied early pressure for Western Park with two wickets. Jindivick 6/169 def Buln Buln 8/85 An even spread of contributors helped Jindivick to a comfortable victory over Buln Buln.
Michael Dixon top scored with 43 as the Jumping Jacks posted 6/169. Sam Reid picked up 2/19 for Buln Buln. Reid capped a good game to top score for the Lyrebirds with 31, but could only find support from Charlie Park (24) as Buln Buln fell well short.
Nicholas Bagnall, Shane Hoskins and Gordon Winstone each picked up two wickets for Jindivick.