Central Gippsland earn promotion
S. Watson - W/P
C. Pallot - Hall A. Gaudion - Hall L. Pratt - Hall S. Dillon - Jin S. Fox - Hall
P. Croft - WP S. Fennell - WP D. Vo - WP S. Best - Wgl 5/28
112 102no 85 68 5/45
142 80 62 6/121 R. Park - Buln 112no S. McDonald - Lwy 100no J. Lafrantz - Lwy 79
S. McCormack - Iona 5/21 Z. Wright - Lwy 50no
B. Notman - Hall 41no P. Mulqueen - Buln 40no B. Joyce - Ell 38no L. Lisle - Ell 35no
Central Gippsland Cricket Association will advance to division two of Melbourne Country week after playing off against Wangaratta in the division three final last week.
Following an opening round loss to Wangaratta, Central Gippsland recorded victory over Hamilton and Bellarine Peninsula to advance to the finals.
Central Gippsland defeated Goulburn Murray in the semi-final but were not able to turn the tables against Wangaratta in the decider at Oakleigh.
Winning the toss and electing to bat first, a half century to Hamaiz Mahmood helped Central Gippsland to a middling total of 175.
Early wickets to Blake Mills kept Central Gippsland in the hunt as Wangaratta fell to 4/63, but the total proved not enough as twin half centuries helped Wangaratta pass the total in the 46th over for the loss of five wickets.
Central Gippsland had taken it up to Wangaratta in their opening match at Pinewood Reserve, falling short by just three runs in a thrilling match.
Rob Phoenix took two wickets, but the Central Gippsland attack struggled to hold the Wangaratta bats as they posted 5/244 from their allotted overs.
Central Gippsland fought back from the loss of early wickets in reply, with several contributions from the middle order keeping them in the hunt. George McKinley (50), Saad Qureshi (45) and Mills (45) advanced the cause, but Wangaratta took wickets at regular intervals to take the match down to the wire.
Lachlan Harper finished unbeaten on 30 in an admirable effort of shepherding the tail, but Central Gippsland fell devastatingly short to the tune of just three runs.
Central Gippsland bounced back with victory over Hamilton at Box Hill.
Mahmood finished unbeaten on 99, while McKinley chipped in with 60 to help Central Gippsland post 7/246.
Robert Webber and Nicholas Gurney each took three wickets as Central Gippsland restricted Hamilton to 156.
Victory against Bellarine Peninsula followed in round three.
Gurney and Harper took five wickets between them to restrict Bellarine to 170.
Central Gippsland were in a world of hurt at 6/29, before Mills struck an unbeaten 92 to lead a rescue mission that saw his team across the line for a two-wicket win.
Harper chipped in with 41 in a valuable 105-run partnership, before Mills dominated an unbroken ninth wicket stand with Gurney to see Central Gippsland home.
Phoenic scored 42 to lead a procession of starts to see Central Gippsland post 246 in the semi-final against Goulburn Murray at Greaves Park.
Three wickets to Webber helped Central Gippsland restrict Goulburn Murray to 208 and book a place in the final, which will see Central Gippsland advance to division two next year.
Wild Dogs square ledger
Meanwhile, Warragul and District Cricket Association squared the ledger with two wins and two losses in its division three campaign.
The result will see the Wild Dogs remain in division three next season.
The Wild Dogs began their campaign well, defeating Seymour at Camberwell.
Sam Batson, Thomas Keily, James Williams and Tyler McDonald shared the wickets to restrict Seymour to 122.
An unbetean 72 to Jack Paull saw the Wild Dogs home for a four wicket win with more than 15 overs to spare.
Losses to Goulburn Murray and Ferntree Gully Colts hurt the Wild Dogs’ chances of progressing to the final.
Playing Goulburn Murray at Doncaster’s Schramm Reserve, Ryan Williams led the way with 41 as the Wild Dogs posted the middling total of 182.
An unbeaten 122 from just 81 balls to Paul Newman saw Goulburn Murray race to 3/188 in the 26th over.
McDonald managed two wickets in the face of the onslaught.
Ferntree Gully Colts managed a competitive total of 218, despite the efforts of Batson and McDonald who each took three wickets.
Jack Armour (38) and Nick Fairbank (37) each made starts, but the Wild Dogs could only manage 160 in reply.
The Wild Dogs scored a consolation victory over Hamilton at Mervyn Hughes oval in the final round.
McDonald again led the way with the ball, taking three wickets to help restrict Hamilton to 9/200.
Paull (43), Batson (30), Keily (62) and Ryan Williams (36) saw the Wild Dogs home in quick time.
With eight teams contesting division three, the teams were split into a red division and yellow division with the top four teams advancing to the semi finals.