PROVINCIAL
THE top four is set in MPCA Provincial cricket after Baxter pulled off a superb outright victory against Moorooduc on Saturday.
With just one round remaining in the home and away season, a one day fixture, Baxter is 12 points clear of Langwarrin, who also charged up the ladder after winning outright against Rye.
Sorrento is also just one game behind Baxter in sixth place on the ladder. Sorrento is assured a win against Rye in the final game but they are no chance of getting 20 wickets in 40 overs and make a score themselves.
Sorrento’s percentage of 0.8 is also ordinary. Langwarrin has a percentage of 1.0 and Baxter 1.2. Baxter is in the box seat to hang on, even if they were to lose this weekend.
Baxter tackles Pines at home in the final game. The Piners are a notorious one day outfit and won’t be easy pickings.
Langwarrin plays Mt Eliza. Mt Eliza’s form of late has been very good with three wins in their past four matches, against Pines, Rye and Mornington. Their only loss since round seven came against ladder leaders Peninsula Old Boys by 60 runs (233 v 171).
All Baxter needed to do on day two of its clash against Moorooduc was take 10 wickets and not allow the opposition to score any more than 120 to 150 runs.
With a first innings lead of 105, Baxter rolled the opposition for 123 in the second innings and needed just 19 runs in more than 30 overs to pick-up the maximum points.
Their star Dale Irving was superb once again for the winners, snaring 5/21 from 13 overs to go with his 3/47 in the first innings and unbeaten 45 with the bat.
Sam Wolsgrove really made a claim for a spot in the team with 3/39 in the first innings and 2/15 from eight overs in the second dig.
Leigh Lambert scored 38 for the Ducs in the second innings.
Langwarrin leg spinner Matty Prosser ripped through the Rye batting line up in the first and second innings to claim match figures of 10/55 in its outright victory.
Langwarrin made 172 in its first innings and had the home side in real trouble at 5/43 overnight.
The Demons made just 12 more runs before being forced to bat again. Matty Prosser snared 4/6 in the first innings.
Rye scored 108 in the second innings but it wasn’t enough to force Langwarrin to bat again. Prosser picked up 6/49 in the second dig while older brother Jake Prosser claimed 2/2.
Crib Point was in hot water against Long Island overnight at 6/46, chasing 106, however, Brad Davidson (92) and Ricky Thompson (32) got the second placed Pies over the line.
Crib Point finished on 188, an easy 80 run victory in the end.
Mt Eliza made it three wins from its past four matches with a strong performance against Mornington.
After scoring 256, the Mounties were looking to keep their form on song and build momentum through to next year.
Mornington resumed on 0/10 and added just another 122 runs. Nick Baron picked up 4/20 and Justin Savio 3/41 for the Mounties.
Pines was well beaten by Somerville.
Defending 186, the Piners couldn’t make inroads into the Eagles’ batting line up. The visitors pulled up stumps at 3/187. Jack Barbour was unbeaten on 61.
Peninsula Old Boys cruised to victory against Sorrento.
The home side, defending 297, rolled the Sorras for 212. Anthony Balckwell top scored for the visitors with 58 while Bobby Wilson scored 42. Adam Jones was the picked of the Old Boys bowlers with 3/16.
First published in the Mornington News – 23 February 2016
