Division 1
A round of upsets has tightened the oneday ladder after round 10, leaving five teams (Drouin, Neerim District, Hallora, Buln Buln and Ellinbank) battling for the final spot in the one-day final heading into the final one-day round.
Stunning upset to Stags
Neerim District 8/206cc def Buln Buln 8/197cc Neerim has miraculously put themselves within touching distance of a one-day final berth, with a stunning upset of reigning premier Buln Buln at home.
Batting first, the ever-reliable combination of Jack Ward and Nathan Bayne continued their form against the Buln bowling attack as they combined for a 64-run opening stand before Bayne was removed off the bowling of Cal Stewart (2-35) for 39.
Max Kelly (3-35) removed Rhys George soon after, before Ward (33) and Ash Lockett (12) departed as well.
Troy Clarke was the next to go, as the Stags found themselves at 5-119 with just 10 overs remaining and a deep bowling attack looking to skittle the bottom order.
However, a resurgent Bailey George launched an extraordinary counter-attack, and despite little support from the other end, he cracked 71 from just 49 deliveries in an innings that included four towering sixes as he pushed Neerim’s total to an imposing 8206 off their allotted overs.
George’s innings was one that seemed critical at the time but proved monumentally pivotal come the end of the game.
In reply, despite losing veteran Jeff Walsh (19) early, the in-form Jack Armour and Corey Jagoe managed to swing the momentum in the Lyrebird’s favour, as the pair whisked 15 boundaries in a sensational 125run partnership that built a solid foundation in pursuit of the Stags’ total.
Armour in particular accelerated the score, to the point where the Lyrebirds required just 37 off the last five overs and were seemingly well on top.
However a brilliant over from Matt Kelliher changed the game. First he skittled Armour for 78, before removing danger-man Cal Stewart first ball to begin the Buln collapse.
Jagoe (66) followed soon after before Toby Bayne (2-43) removed Brent Eastwell, as an array of singles and two’s left the Lyrebirds requiring 12 runs off the last over.
With part-timer Nathan Bayne required to bowl he suffocated the Buln chances of winning, taking three wickets before allowing a single off the last ball, putting Neerim into raptures as they recorded their third, and perhaps best, win of the season.
Panthers leapfrog Kangas
Hallora 103 def by Yarragon 9/133cc Yarragon has leapfrogged Hallora to place themselves in the top four, stunning Hallora on their home deck with an outstanding bowling display.
Being put into bat on a tough wicket by the home side, Yarragon lost two early wickets courtesy of Sam Whibley and Aidan Phillips before Gayan De Silva (50) played a typically brutal knock to keep the Panthers on course.
Gamini Kumara (24) made a solid contribution as runs were hard to come by, as Ash Causey (3-17) and Grant Duncan (3-21) bowled nagging spells of slow bowling to restrict the scoring.
Handy contributions at the end from Ashley Smith and Daminda Rajapakshlage helped push the score to a defendable 9-133, however the sheer number of runs made this season suggested that it wouldn’t be enough.