DISTRICT
BADEN Powell and Red Hill remain clear at the top of the MPCA District ladder after recording easy victories on Saturday.
The Braves and Hillmen are 12 points clear of their nearest rivals Pearcedale, who also recovered to win comfortably. Flinders and Heatherhill round out the top five.
There are four teams all on 24 points, just one game outside of the top four.
Red Hill was just 71 runs short of victory with 10 wickets in hand against Seaford Tigers when play resumed at Red Hill Reserve.
Whilst the Tigers tried to make life difficult for the home side, it didn’t prevent them from recording an effortless 83-run victory. In reality, the game was all over early when the openers Riley Shaw (41) and Callum Rowe (38) put on a partnership of 81.
Although Simon Dart went cheaply, Brent Martin strode to the crease and hit 46, ensuring his side got over the line. Corey Hand was outstanding for the Tigers with 6/54 from 23.4 overs.
Baden Powell were never going to lose their match against Delacombe Park, however a greater fight from the visitors was expected. The Braves made a whopping 7/314 on the opening day of the match at Overport Rd.
Other than Jon Gurthrie, who opened with 50 and Rowan Charles with 26, the rest of the Parkers failed to score more than eight runs. Andrew Christides’ total of eight was a consolation prize for the Parkers.
Ryan Barnett was outstanding for the Braves, opening the bowling with 6/19 off 15 overs, giving him 18 wickets for the season. Rhys Elmi rounded out a great personal game with 2/8, along with his 61 runs.
Carrum have slumped to second-last on the District ladder after being smashed by Flinders.
Defending 227, the Sharks had Carrum in all sorts of trouble as day two began with the top four batsmen in the sheds, just 29 runs between them.
Shaun Foster ended up with 27, adding nine runs to his overnight total, while Lachy Dobson flew the flag at the end with an unbeaten 38. The Lions were bowled out for 130.
Matt Burns finished with 4/20 from 21.4 overs to be the pick of the Flinders bowlers.
Pearcedale were in real strife at the beginning of the second day against Mt Martha. Chasing 143 for victory, the Panthers resumed on 4/39. That quickly became 5/62 when Shayne Gillings went out for seven.
However, Chris Dew (75) was joined at the crease by the extremely talented Max Blackburn, who played his best innings in three seasons, dominating the Reds’ attack and finishing with 133.
Pearcedale were eventually bowled out in the 68th over for 272, a victory of 130 runs.
Heatherhill won a clincher with Seaford, claiming victory by just six runs.
Resuming on 1/6 chasing Heatherhill’s 176, Seaford (170) had their chances but just couldn’t get over the line.
Jake Theobald was the best of the Hills’ bowlers, with 4/47 from 17.5 overs. The Hills are now just outside the top four on percentage alone
Main Ridge and Boneo played out a runfest, with the home side winning the day. Boneo set the Ridge 294 for victory after scoring 8/293 on the first day. The home side was wobbly early, before Travis Barker (65) and Gareth Wyatt (59) steadied the ship.
Bailey McLellan (32), James Abbott (31) and Jason Albress (44) all got going in the middle order to steer the Ridge to 7/306. Leigh Janssen was the best of the Pandas’ bowlers with 3/70 rom 26 overs.
First published in the Mornington News – 8 December 2015
