Bunyip’s catastrophic collapse gives Hallora a great victory
Division 4 semi-finals
Hallora (3/42) def Bunyip (40)
In one of the more staggering results seen in recent lower-grade history in the WDCA, ladder-leaders Bunyip suffered a truly catastrophic collapse against Hallora that saw them beaten for the first time this season.
Having won the toss and electing to bat, the Bulls began comfortably with Sharpe and Bird adding 24 for the opening partnership. What followed however was truly remarkable.
Jake Dean was able to breach Bird's defences and remove him for 17, and with the wind in his sails triggered a collapse of 5/0. Dean Warren, Jerry Whibley, and Peter Duffus all came and went without scoring, and with Chris Sharpe proving able support to Dean with the new ball it seemed like Bunyip might never make another run.
All up Bunyip lost nine wickets for just five runs, as Rodney (1), Dare (1), Jackson (0), Barton (0) gave little resistance as wicket after wicket tumbled.
All up they were bowled out for just 40 in the 17th over, with Dean (5/18) and Sharpe (4/12) entirely dominant.
In reply, Hallora lost two early wickets, but Sharpe's 25* carried his side over the line after just 11.2 overs.
Ellinbank (6/134) def. Western Park (132)
A frustrating batting effort saw Western Park fall short in their semi-final clash with Ellinbank, with the Warriors top order unable to capitalise on some solid starts ensuring they never had enough runs on the board to challenge Ellinbank.
Batting first, the top six all made between 15 and 30 but no-one was able to stay patient and post the big score needed, with the likes of Phil Conley (3/23), Nate Murphy (3/23) and Brad Berry (3/22) snaring regular wickets thanks to some tidy line-and-length bowling.
Western Park snared the early wicket they needed to kickstart their defence –with Stuart Davis caught behind off the bowling of Dave Nobels – but without run-rate pressure Ellinbank were able to steadily compile runs and edge ever closer to their target.
Michael Masterson anchored the chase with a patient 51 – content to work the ball into gaps with the odd aggressive stroke – and Murphy (29) and Scammell (20) did enough to see Ellinbank over the line in the 39th over.
Division 4 preliminary final
Ellinbank (3/182) def Bunyip (136)
Having been thoroughly embarrassed in the semi-final Bunyip would no doubt have appreciated the chance to rectify that result against Ellinbank thanks to the double-chance, but after an undefeated home-and-away season all that came was a straight sets exit from the Division 4 finals, with the Bulls crashing to a 46-run loss.
Having been sent into the field, Bunyip's bowlers struggled to exert the dominance they had for much of the year, with Stuart Davis (70), Mathew Murphy (50), and Brad Berry (43) all enjoying stellar days with the bat.
Their efforts helped lift Ellinbank to an intimidating total of 3/182, and it was a total that Bunyip never looked like reaching. Notman (1/18 off 6) and Conley (3/10 off 6.1) applied pressure with the new-ball, and Nate (2/22) and Mathew Murphy (2/32) continued to snare regular wickets as the Bulls chase faltered.
In the end the pressure proved too much, and Bunyip were bundled out for 136 in the 37th over, sending Ellinbank into a grand-final showdown against Hallora.
Division 5 semi-finals
Iona (9/134) def. Yarragon (131)
A tense 10th wicket stand of 23 between Joel Bain and Russell Ferguson lifted Iona to victory in their semi-final encounter with Yarragon, with the Swamp Tigers overcoming some impressive bowling to sneak into a preliminary final berth.
Having restricted Yarragon to 131 – a total made possible thanks to handy knocks of 22* to Chameera Vithnage and 20 to Steven Green – Iona's chase began steadily. Jake Green (3/34) and Michael Stead (3/30) combined to make life difficult for the Swamp Tigers, and their efforts saw the scoreboard read 9/111 and victory surely in their grasp.
However, Yarragon's hopes were dashed by Bain and Ferguson, with the pair displaying nerves of steel to carry their side home in the 34th over.
Catani (5/177) def. Longwarry (100)
Catani emphasised their standing as flag favourites in Division 5, sealing a Grand Final berth on the back of a 77-run win over Longwarry.
In a dominant display of batting Catani made 5/177 – with Robert Coupe's 51* and Matt Coleman's 45 the highlights – and with runs on the board their bowlers were able to induce mistakes from the Longwarry line-up. Although plenty of the Crows middle order made starts, Wade (2/24), Smith (3/26) and Wagstaff (3/24) were able to snare regular wickets that stymied Longwarry's progress and after just 26.4 overs they had dismissed their opponents for 100.
Division 5 preliminary final
Longwarry (3/145) def. Iona (140): Having struggled with the bat in the semi-final loss to Catani, Longwarry found their mojo in the preliminary final against Iona, making light work of what seemed to be a challenging target.
The Swamps Tigers had batted with great determination and posted 6/140 from their 40 overs, but unfortunately for them there would be no repeat of their semi-final miracle.
The Crows came out with aggressive intent and there was little they could do to stem the flow of runs. Mathew Jones (52) and Jett Pickering (54*) blasted boundary after boundary in a 101-run 3rd wicket stand, and in one of the more remarkable finals chases reached their target after just 20 overs to set up a grand final showdown with Catani.