PROVINCIAL
PENINSULA Old Boys shot to the top of the MPCA Provincial ladder on Saturday after picking up an outright victory over Pines. The Old Boys already had the win on week one of the match after bowling out the visitors for 87 before declaring their innings on 7/104.
Pines resumed on Saturday in a reasonable position of 2/52 with Nick Wilcox and Rhys Chalkley at the crease. Chalkley went quickly for one and Wilcox followed shortly after, making 49. The Pines’ middle order was resilient before POB eventually bowled them out for 189.
Needing about 170 to pick up the outright victory, Peninsula Old Boys did it with eight batsmen still in the sheds. Matt Hyden was superb for his side, leading the charge and making 86, while Wade Pelzer opened with 65.
Mornington and Somerville played out an absolute cliff-hanger, with the home side hanging on by just five runs. After making 242 on the first day at Alexandra Park, Mornington started the second day in blistering fashion, rolling the first four Somerville batsmen for just 32 runs.
Luke Popov removed both openers before Michael Heib and Matt Foon got amongst the wickets and had the Eagles on the back foot.
But Somerville skipper Leigh Lowry dug in and helped himself to 68, while the likes of Jack Barbour (26) and Jack Kennedy (62*) gave the visitors a real sniff.
At 6/200 and with the likes of Craig Black and Matt Roach still to come, it appeared the Eagles were in the box seat. Black made 32 and Roach 17, however, ducks to Jarryd Parker and Blake Terlaak saw the Eagles lose their final three wickets for just three runs.
Somerville was bowled out for 237. Heib finished with four wickets and Foon three.
Further down the Peninsula at Sorrento, the home side and Baxter also played a nail biter. Defending 223, Baxter had Sorrento resuming at 1/14 on day two.
Nick Jewell, Bobby Wilson and Anthony Blackwell all ended up back in the sheds with the total at 106.
When Corey Harris (42) was snared by Chris Brittain without adding to the score, the Sorras seemed to have little chance. Enter Chris King, Jayden Morgan and Jackson Casper.
Morgan helped his side get to 130 before he went for 15, but Casper and King added another 93 runs to tie the game before King went out for 57.
Number 11 Connor McMahon just needed to survive to allow Casper to regain the strike and hit the winning run.
With six overs still left in the game, Casper just needed to pick up a single, which he did, to gift Sorrento the 12 points.
Crib Point easily accounted for Langwarrin, maintaining its position in the top two. Defending 223, the Magpies had Langwarrin resuming at 1/4.
After Nathan Volpe made 41 and Jake Prosser 29, the Kangas were rolled for just 113. Glenn Barclay snared 4/19 for the Pies and Jacob Cook helped himself to 4/25.
Moorooduc performed as expected to beat Rye outright. Rye made just 57 in its first innings while Moorooduc declared at 8/145 after resuming on day two at 4/98.
The Ducs then bowled out Rye for a second time for 98 before picking up the necessary 16 runs to win outright. Adam Bayley finished with figures of 8/17, including a hat-trick on the first day.
Long Island defeated Mt Eliza with relative ease. The Islanders began the day on 0/16, chasing the Mounties’ 121. The visitors got there with only four wickets down. Scott Phillips top scored with 64 after taking 4/26 with the ball on the first day. Mike Reynolds was also solid for the Islanders with 60.
First published in the Mornington News – 8 December 2015
