CRICKET

PROVINCIAL

PINES are in pole position to defeat Baxter.

Baxter Park hosted day one of the two-day clash between Baxter and Pines. Pines batted first, and had an excellent time at the crease.

Harley Peace-Stirling was Pines’ best. He blasted 108 runs from 138 balls, including 14 fours.

Jack Peace-Stirling contributed 80 runs to the scoreboard. Declan Jackson also scored a half century.

Pines finished the day with a huge total of 7/336. Baxter has a lot of work to do to avoid a loss.

Ladder leaders Old Peninsula are staring down the barrel of defeat. They were bowled out for just 157 on Saturday, with Red Hill scoring 1/70 in response before stumps.

At Overport Park last weekend, Langwarrin’s Matthew Prosser fell agonisingly short of a century.

Prosser was dismissed for 97. It was one of the few disappointments in what was a strong day for the Langwarrin batters.

Langwarrin scored 5/294 on day one of their match with Baden Powell.

On day two of their matchup, Long Island will try to defend a total of 161 against Sorrento.

PENINSULA

A BRILLIANT century from Mackenzie Gardner was the highlight on day one of Seaford Tigers’ match with Somerville.

Gardner hit 112 runs for the Tigers. He smashed 8 boundaries, 5 fours and 3 sixes.

Opener Brayden Roscoe also impressed for the Tigers. He scored 67 runs. Number four batter Luke Kranzbuhler scored 47.

On day two Somerville will need to score 274 to win.

Flinders will have to work hard to avoid defeat in their two-day match against Mt Eliza.

Flinders were sent in to bat first on day one. They struggled, and ended up all out for 119.

Bowler Ravindu Kodithuwakku did most of the damage. He took 5/33, making short work of the tail end.

Mt Eliza came in to bat for 22 overs before stumps. They will restart on day two from 3/55.

DISTRICT

THE two-day match between Carrum Downs and Carrum looks set to go down to the wire.

Carrum Downs batted first on day one. They struggled badly, ending up all out for 114.

Carrum bowler Liam Hulett ran riot on the top order. He finished with figures of  6/42 from 26 overs, his best ever for his club.

Carrum were handed a golden opportunity to win, but they struggled with the bat too.

Carrum batted for 24 overs before stumps. They stumbled out of the gates to 3/6, and finished the day at 4/32.

Seaford scored 174 on day one of their match against Delacombe Park. Rosebud set Hastings a target of 196 to chase down on day one of their match at Hastings Park.

SUB DISTRICT

SKYE wrapped up a first innings victory over Ballam Park on Saturday.

Skye batted first on day one of the two-day clash. They were bowled out for 120 after only 34 overs.

Luckily for Skye, their bowlers fared better than their batters. They bowled Ballam Park out for 98 to score a first innings win.

Azhar Zeeshan was the pick of the bowlers. He took figures of 5/22, his personal best for his club, to score his side the win.

Skye came in to bat once more before stumps. They scored 4/52.

Balnarring are in the box seat to claim an away win over Pearcedale.

Balnarring batted first on day one. They scored a mammoth 4/308 from 50 overs before declaring.

Luke Hewitt was Balnarring’s best. The opener scored 112 runs – he hit 15 fours and 4 sixes along the way.

Pearcedale scored 5/49 before stumps. They need a miracle to prevent defeat.

Mt Martha scored 7/169 on day one of their match against Rye on Saturday. At Truemans Road Reserve, Boneo scored 1/65 in reply to Tootgarook’s total of 102.

At Bunguyan Reserve, Frankston YCW set Tyabb a target of 232 to win.

COUNTRY WEEK

THE MPCA Country week side has been announced.

Among those called up to the team was a promising 16-year-old batter. Teenager Sam Gove from Flinders Cricket Club was selected.

Gove joins a rare class of 16-year-olds to be picked in the Country Week squad. In 1939, 16-year-old Lewin Cubitt from Balnarring took part in the carnival.

The Country Week carnival begins on 13 February.

First published in the Mornington News – 8 February 2023