SUB-DISTRICT
TOOTGAROOK and Hastings stand alone at the top of the MPCA Sub District ladder after the opening three rounds of the season.
Tootgarook recorded an easy victory of Skye on Saturday to shoot to the top of the table while Hastings won a tight match against Balnarring.
There is then a log-jam of five teams a game behind on 18 points.
Balnarring offered plenty of resistance in its game against the Hastings.
The Blues scored 245 on the opening day of the match and had the Saints reeling at 3/26 overnight.
However, the home side dug deep and got within 15 runs of victory, eventually being bowled out for 231 in the 62nd over.
Mitch Floyd was the pick of the bowlers for the Blues with 4/77 from 22 overs, while Luke Hewitt claimed 3/50 and Isuru Dias 3/44.
Tootgarook, as expected, made light work of Skye.
Defending 221 for victory, the Frogs rolled Skye for 130. Pat Beckham was the best of the Skye batsmen with 30.
Frankston YCW won a thriller against Dromana.
Defending 232, the Stonecats rolled the Hoppers for 225 with one over left in the day.
The home side had a terrible start after resuming one wicket down on the second day, losing Adam Ciavarella early too.
Kierran Voelkl (70) and Jedd Savage (72) then went about getting the Hoppers back into the match.
The match see-sawed from that point, Dromana eventually bowled out eight runs shy of winning.
Brett Hudgson was vintage for the Stonecats with 6/69 from 29 overs while Sam Fulton claimed 3/44 from 22 overs.
Ballam Park kept their early season alive with a god win against Carrum.
A half century to Stuart Plunkett, 37 from Steve Worthington and 34 from David Cross ensured that the Knights got the required runs to win the match.
Defending 156 was always going to be a tough ask for Carrum, despite having the Knights two down overnight. Ballam Park scored 180 in 73 overs.
Tyabb eased to victory against Carrum Downs.
With 315 runs on the board, the Yabbies dismissed the Cougars for 194.
Skipper Noel Wylie was the best of the Tyabb bowlers with 4/47.
First published in the Mornington News – 8 November 2016
