COUNTRY WEEK
THE Mornington Peninsula Cricket Associations Provincial and Division Two teams struggled in the Country Week championships.
The Provincial team lost its opening two matches against Geelong and Bendigo, the eventual grand finalists, before opening their account against Sale-Maffra on day three of the carnival.
It lost its final match of the tournament to Warrnambool.
Tom Wood scored 54 and skipper Matt Foon 51 against Geelong in their score of 8/201 while Chris Dew and Matt Foon collected three wickets each in Geelong’s knock of 267.
The MPCA was rolled for 115 against Bendigo (9/212 & 4/67). Justin Grant claimed 5/37 and Jon Forrest 3/28. Chris Dew top scored with 44 and Scott Phillips hit 29.
In their win against Sale-Maffra, Daniel Warwick top scored with 53 and Foon hit 48 in their score of 6/175. They then bowled out the opposition for 82 with Andrew Tweddle claiming 5/16.
The MPCA then lost to Warrnambool. Jon Forrest picked up 4/60 in Warrnambool’s total of 8/288. Warwick top scored for the MPCA in the chase with 61, while Forrest scored 48. The MPCA was bowled out for 200.
Geelong beat Bendigo in the final.
The Division Two team also won only one game.
It lost to Leongatha on the opening day by six runs. Batting first, the MPCA made 9/152 with Billy Quigley top scoring with 42. Leongatha replied with 8/158. Skipper Dylan O’Malley claimed 3/25 and Michael Clavin 2/21.
Against Sunraysia, the MPCA bowled first with the opposition scoring 8/215. Mike Reynolds and Chris King snared two wickets each. In reply, the MPCA was bowled out for 169 with Kristian Miller top scoring with 66 and Pat Jackson getting 38.
Round Three was a draw after the ground was unplayable and Round Four saw the MPCA record its first win against South West.
South West batted first and made 161 with Reynolds picking-up 3/17 and Quigley and Jarryd Parker claiming two wickets each.
In reply, the MPCA made 7/181 with Brad Trotter top scoring with 60 and Harley Peace-Sterling hitting 43.
Ballarat beat Leongatha in the final.
First published in the Mornington News – 9 February 2016
