DISTRICT
BADEN Powell is in a world of pain in MPCA District cricket after losing its third match in a row on Saturday.
After dominating the early part of the season, where they failed to lose a game before Christmas, the Braves are now on their knees, searching for ways to try and turn around their once blistering form.
Despite the Braves poor form, their superb percentage of 1.60 is sure to hold them in the top bracket, even if they were to lose against Main Ridge in the final match of the season, a one-dayer.
The Braves’ last victory came on January 9 when they beat Boneo in a one day game. They have lost to Pearcedale, Red Hill and now Mt Martha since that victory.
Baden Powell is in third place right now with 84 points. Flinders is in fourth position on 72 points, along with Seaford and Heatherhill.
While the Braves appear to be safe, despite their bad form, the race for fourth place is where the interest lies.
Flinders goes into battle with Seaford Tigers in the final round. The Sharks have a percentage of 1.24.
Seaford, in fifth place, goes head to head with top of the table Red Hill. Seaford has a percentage of 1.09.
Heatherhill is in sixth place with a percentage of 1.02 and plays Mt Martha this Saturday.
Flinders just needs to win to ensure that it keeps its place in the top four.
The Hills will be brimming with confidence after knocking over the Hillmen on Saturday.
After scoring 197, the Hills had the ladder leaders reeling at 5/36 overnight. Simon Dart hit 76 and Brent Martin 37 to give the Hillmen a sniff, however, they still fell 29 runs short (169).
The Hills have blooded a lot of kids this season and the future looks bright for this once powerful club.
Flinders did a real job on Main Ridge.
Defending 242, the Sharks rolled the home side for just 101 with Matt Burns superb with 6/29, giving him 22 wickets for the season.
Blake Hogan-Keogh was more than solid for the winners also with 3/35 from 18 overs.
Seaford had its season on the line on Saturday and couldn’t step up to the plate against Pearcedale.
Seaford was chasing a modest total of 9/210 and didn’t get close, rolled for 115.
Kaine Smith was sensational once again for the Panthers with 4/15 and Chris Dew and Shayne Gillings claimed 3/33 and 3/35 respectively.
What a superb effort from this cricket club (Pearcedale) to go from ‘struggle street’ to premiers in subbies last season and now they are a real shot for the title in District this season.
Boneo has had a tough season but its form has been pretty good of late and they were rewarded with their first win of the season on Saturday against Delacombe Park.
Boneo bowled out Delacombe Park for 145 after scoring 8/285 on day one of the match.
Leigh Janssen was great for Boneo with 5/28 from 23.3 overs.
The Pandas now play Carrum in the final game of the season. The winner will avoid relegation.
Carrum made 199 against Seaford Tigers but it was still almost 70 runs short of victory.
Jake D’Atri top scored for the Lions with 59 and Shaun Foster scored 39.
The Lions must beat Boneo this weekend to stay in District next season.
First published in the Mornington News – 23 February 2016
