Author: IT Gully

DISTRICT SEAFORD made tough work of winning its MPCA District game against Rye. However that was predicted given Seaford started day two of the match reeling at 4/42. David Anderson (28) and Dean Polson with an unbeaten 67 saved the day for Seaford, getting to a match winning total of 178 in just 57 overs. Andrew Dunn was the best of Rye’s bowlers, bowling 23 overs for a return of 3/72. Hastings deserved to celebrate on Saturday night and it did so with a 37 run victory over Mt Martha. Isuru Dias was masterful for the Blues sending down 32.2…

PROVINCIAL THEY say that a week can be along time in sport.  Just one match ago in MPCA Provincial Cricket, Baxter appeared to be a long shot of making this year’s final series. Fast forward a match and Baxter is now the only team outside of the top bracket to be any chance of breaking in.  That comes on the back of a demolition job on Pearcedale who would have been confident of getting the 191 runs needed for victory.  Baxter’s bowling attack shared in the glory boasting five wicket takers in Pearcedale’s innings of 129. Ben Brittain was the…

SUB-DISTRICT DROMANA is just 14 runs shy of victory with six wickets in hand against Tyabb in MPCA Sub District cricket.  The Yabbies batted first and faced just 50 overs. Brodie Bennett hit 36 off 34 deliveries including three sixes.  Nick Toranto was the next best with 21.  Jeff Bluhm was superb for the Hoppers bowling 20 overs and picking up 4/24.  Jye Voelkl was also impressive with the ball picking up 3/24 off nine overs.  Dromana batted the final 30 overs of the day and despite a horror start (3/25) they recovered to be 4/115 at stumps.  Jack Fowler…

DISTRICT FOR one of the first times this season Hastings has placed itself in a strong position to win after batting first against Mt Martha in MPCA District cricket. The Blues were sent in to bat by the Reds, clearly aware of the Blues’ recent batting form. However, Nathan Hunt opened with 49 and Luke Hewitt contributed 40 while the middle order picked up some handy runs as well, to help the Blues to 187. Kade Bendle sent down 25 overs and was rewarded with 4/71.  Brad Schreuder was the next best for the Reds with the ball snaring 4/56.…

PENINSULA RED Hill was back to its run machine best, smacking 7/313 against Moorooduc in MPCA Peninsula cricket.  Matt Merifield was back to his vintage best with 83 off 93 balls, while Brent Martin also played a significant role scoring 88.  The evergreen Kenny Cremen wound back the clock opening with 16 overs and snatching 4/48.  Long Island and Pines are locked in a dour struggle at Eric Bell Reserve.  The Islanders batted first and didn’t set the world on fire with the bat, scoring just 154 despite a number of players getting starts.  Captain Aaron Paxton opened with a…

PROVINCIAL MT Eliza and Peninsula Old Boys are locked in an epic battle in the match of the day in MPCA Provincial cricket. The Mounties lasted just 54.1 overs before being bundled out for 151. The top order did OK, but the Mounties were failed by their lower order. Tim Clarke top scored the Mounties with 41 while Lyle House contributed 30. Surprisingly, POB skipper Wade Pelzer was the pick of the bowlers, snaring 3/24 from nine overs.  Jon Forrest was at his best picking up 3/24 off 18 overs. James La Brooy also claimed 3/38. POB was forced to…

SUB-DISTRICT BONEO moved back into the top four after knocking over Ballam Park in MPCA Sub District cricket on Saturday. The Pandas (68 points) moved two points clear of Tyabb and Carrum in fifth and sixth place on the ladder and a game clear of Frankston YCW in seventh place (56). The Knights and Skye (42) and Balnarring (30) now appear too far behind to play finals. The Pandas kept their finals hopes alive with a crushing with, thanks largely to a sensational display from Chris Jobling, who smashed nine sixes and six fours on his way to a match…

DISTRICT HASTINGS fell to its worst defeat of the season on Saturday in MPCA District cricket, humiliated by Rye. While the Demons started the season well, its form in recent times has been equally appalling as the Blues. On Saturday though, Rye again justified why it is in the top four, all be it on the back of a solid performance from Matt Whelan. Unfortunately for the Demons, there is far too much reliance on Whelan. It did win without Zac Stevenson though. The Blues tried to mix it up and sent Rye into bat after winning the toss. Whelan…

PENINSULA THINGS have tightened right up in MPCA Peninsula cricket with five sides from third to seventh within one game of one another. Pines jumped into third place on Saturday with a great win over top of the table Main Ridge, while Moorooduc is just a game outside third place, despite a loss to Flinders on Saturday. Delacombe Park is the only team not in the mix and remains the front runner to be relegated at season’s end, even after beating Red Hill on Saturday. The Hillmen batted first on home turf and would have been very happy with its…

PROVINCIAL FINALLY, there was some play in MPCA Provincial cricket on Saturday. It was a great week for Langwarrin CC, who jumped to the top of the table, relegating Peninsula Old Boys to second place after recording a seven wicket win at Peninsula Grammar. Meanwhile, there is now a 20 point gap between fourth-placed Mornington and fifth placed Baxter. Since being promoted back to Provincial, Langwarrin has struggled against POB and Baxter. On Saturday, however, the monkey was lifted off the Kangas’ back after winning comfortably against POB. The Kangas lost the toss and bowled first but got away to…

THE Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association has upheld its decision to strip Balnarring of all of its points for an “administration error” in playing an unregistered player, Mitch Klienig. Whilst the second round of 2018 was again influenced by the weather, Balnarring was left to lick its wounds in a decision the club has labelled “a farce”. The First XI was stripped of its points last year by the MPCA after they found that despite Klienig being registered with Balnarring, he was permitted out to Ivanhoe CC last season for the final three games of the year. Knowing Mitch Klienig was…

CRICKET MORNINGTON Peninsula Cricket Association round eight matches were rightfully called off last weekend due to 40 degree-plus temperatures. However, in complete contrast, most of the round nine matches on Saturday (13 January) were called off due to torrential rain. Despite rain-effected round across Provincial, Peninsula and Sub-District divisions, there were some little gems that emerged from the damp. Flinders beat Delacombe Park in District and Frankston YCW and Boneo drew in Sub-District. Dromana went agonisingly close to knocking over Carrum Downs. The game was called off when the Hoppers were 2-93, chasing just 116 for victory. The feel-good story…

SUB-DISTRICT TOOTGAROOK will spend the MPCA Sub District Christmas break on top of the ladder after recording a solid victory against Carrum Downs on Saturday. It was a tough task for the Frogs, chasing down 198 for victory on the second day of a match. However, they did it emphatically with a wicket and a massive 25 overs to spare. Travis French was again superb at the top of the innings for the Frogs, however, the match winner was Scott Stirling, who blasted 84 to get his side over the line. Stirling went out when his side was already four…

DISTRICT BADEN Powell has jumped to the top of the MPCA District ladder after beating Rye outright on Saturday. Whilst the victory seems like a big deal, it wasn’t really. The Demons were already shot after losing 13 wickets on the opening day of the match and still trailed by 50 runs heading into day two. Resuming at 3/9, the Demons were rolled for just 59 and Baden Powell finished the afternoon picking up the runs it needed to claim the outright. Rosebud went for the reverse outright against Mt Martha on Saturday and it went within four wickets of…

PENINSULA MAIN Ridge thrashed Red Hill in MPCA Peninsula cricket on Saturday in a day that was marred with controversy at Red Hill. It appeared on Saturday when the teams arrived at the ground that a Red Hill wine farmer might have got themselves lost on their ride-on mower and ended up at Red Hill Reserve. You see, when Main Ridge batted at the ground last week for its 214, the ground was described as a “cow paddock”. From all reports, council came and mowed the grass on Wednesday – a great result for the Hillmen. However, in controversial circumstances,…

PROVINCIAL LANGWARRIN and Mornington have staged a wonderful end to the 2017 calendar year in MPCA Provincial cricket with an epic draw at Alexandra Park. Chasing 264 for victory, Langwarrin needed just one run and Mornington one wicket heading into the final over of the match. Mornington quick Luke Popov stepped up to the plate and had Sam Prosser caught by Charlie Parker to see the game end in a draw. The match ebbed and flowed and for the most part, it appeared that the Dogs were on top and victory seemed imminent. At one stage the Kangas were looking…

SUB-DISTRICT FRANKSTON YCW is just three wickets away from victory in MPCA Sub District cricket against Tyabb. After being rolled for just 153 in 53.3 overs by the Yabbies, the Stonecats’ bowlers then came out and dominated the opposition, having the Yabbies 7/44 at stumps, still 109 short with just three wickets in hand. At the end of their batting performance, the Stonecats would have been satisfied with just a victory. Now an outright win must be in their sights. Callum Bradford-Briggs was the best of the Stonecats batsmen with 40 while Levi McLoughlin-Dore opened with 32 and Jeremy Daniel…

DISTRICT RYE has taken a step back in time after being humiliated by Baden Powell on day one of their MPCA clash at Overport Rd. In scenes of previous seasons, Rye embarrassed itself, losing 13 wickets in one afternoon of cricket. Batting first, the Demons were bowled out for just 73 in its first innings, all back in the sheds in 44 overs. Ryan Barnett opened with 4/28 from 16 overs, Michael Ballard claimed 3/27 from 17 overs at the other end and Craig Entwhistle picked up 3/2 from 4.1 overs. The Braves then came out and went wooshka, scoring…

PENINSULA MAIN Ridge skipper Nick Jewell has come to the rescue to give his side a realistic chance of beating Red Hill in MPCA Peninsula cricket. With his side in some early trouble, Jewell made 96 to help his side to a total of 214. James Abbott was also solid for the Ridge in the lower order with 45 and Sam Lyons batted well for his 27. The Hillmen were on top early, skipper Simon Dart claiming 2/28, Glenn Collett 2/41 and Brent Martin was the star witth 4/55 off 21 overs, including the wicket of Jewell, four short of…

PROVINCIAL AN unbeaten century to Mornington gun Matt Foon has placed his side in a dominant position in its Provincial match against Langwarrin. Together with Brad McDonald (79), Foon helped his side to an unbeatable 7/263 against the Kangas. Langwarrin started well, removing both openers Sam Wiese and Brad Wilson before the score had reached 30. Charlie Parker went soon after and Foon and McDonald were joined at the crease with the score on 3/54. Travis Campbell was good for the visitors, taking 2/57 from 22 overs, while Sam Prosser was an unlikely wicket taker with 2/22 from seven overs.…

DISTRICT THERE was some cricket played in District and it was Seaford that were the big losers against Heatherhill. Seaford resumed at 0/12 chasing Heatherhill’s first innings total of 190. After getting through 64 overs in challenging conditions, Seaford finished agonisingly close at 7/186, just five runs short of victory. Mt Martha was in all sorts of trouble against Baden Powell. Defending 264, the Braves had Mt Martha in strife at 5/97. Once again, rain saved the day for the Reds. There was no cricket played at Thomas Barclay Oval. Hastings was to resume at 1/20 against Rosebud, who were…

PENINSULA IT was easy to feel sorry for Main Ridge, who required just six runs for victory against Somerville on day two of Peninsula cricket. All that was needed was one or two overs to try and grab the required runs but they never took to the field. The Ridge bowled out Somerville last week for 172, then proceeded to hammer the Eagles’ attack and finish the opening day at 0/167, five runs short. It was guaranteed a win if the rain held off. It didn’t and the Ridge fell short, Somerville ending up the big winners of the round,…

PROVINCIAL PENINSULA Old Boys were the big winners in Mornington Peninsula Provincial cricket on Saturday, the only team to get a result. On a day that was dominated by soggy grounds and rain, all Provincial, Peninsula, District and Sub-District First XI matches ended in draws, except for the Old Boys, who got the job done against Pearcedale. Defending 8/260, the Old Boys rolled Pearcedale for just 121 in 47 overs. Jon Forrest was the key to the victory for the Old Boys, bowling 15 overs and four maidens for a return of 7/22. Tom Shayler was impressive again also with…

SUB-DISTRICT CARRUM Downs has given Ballam Park a challenge in its Sub District clash at Ballam Park. The Cougars batted the entire day before the rains came after 69.4 overs had been bowled, finishing the day at 8/204. Ryan Lynch top scored for the visitors with 56, Leon McConnell hit 33, Nathan Lynch 27 and Joel Williams finished unbeaten on 40 when rain interrupted play. Marc Blume was the pick of the bowlers for Ballam Park with 3/39 from 17 overs, Justin Moore claimed 2/54 from 19 overs and Daniel Edwards-Fisk snared 2/33 from 15 overs. Balnarring limped to 175…

DISTRICT ROSEBUD and Hastings are locked in an intriguing MPCA District battle after 11 wickets fell on the opening day of their clash at Thomas Barclay Reserve. The Buds batted first after winning the toss but other than skipper Billy Quigley, there was little resistance in the order. Quigley scored 48 at the top of the innings while Janaka Kumarage debuted with 27 for the Buds and showed signs that he is only going to get better. Ryan McNamara was on fire for the Blues, bowling 11.1 over and finishing with 5/34, while Isuru Dias sent down 27 overs and…

PENINSULA MAIN Ridge is just six runs away from victory in its MPCA Peninsula clash against Somerville. The Eagles have been a major disappointment this season and that continued on Saturday at the magnificent Ditterich Reserve in Main Ridge. Winning the toss and batting first, the Eagles were bundled out for just 172 on the small deck. Had it not been for a wagging tail, the Eagles would have been lucky to push past 120. Jayde Herrick scored 31 at the top of the innings, Bailey White scored 25, Matt Eager 24 and Sean Parker 21. Sam Lyons was superb…

PROVINCIAL MORNINGTON star Matt Foon single-handedly has Sorrento in all sorts of bother after the opening day of round six in Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association Provincial cricket. The Doggies batted first in ideal conditions after winning the toss but the top order collapsed and the visitors were quickly on the back foot at 3/17. However, with his side in deep trouble, Foon strode to the crease and with the early support of keeper Charlie Parker, regained the ascendancy for their team. Whilst Parker only contributed 36, he did help the score beyond 100 before departing. Foon, however, took complete control,…

SUB-DISTRICT BALNARRING won yet another match in MPCA Sub District on Saturday, however, the ladder leaders will not be able to claim the points, or, not yet. The Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association stripped Balnarring of all of their points for claiming they played an unregistered player, Mitch Klienig. Klienig was registered with the club, however, was permitted out to Ivanhoe last season for the final three games of the year. Knowing Mitch Klienig was in fact registered, Balnarring CC was not aware that it required a permit from Ivanhoe back to their club. Rather than communicate and use common sense,…

DISTRICT HASTINGS defended its miserly total of 119 against Baden Powell on Saturday, winning by more than 50 runs. The Braves were always going to start the day in some trouble, resuming at 4/23, however, things didn’t improve any. Bryce Kellerman with 15 was the only remaining Baden Powell batsman to score double figures, as the home side slumped to 64. The Blues went to the crease again and batted another 51 overs, slumping to 5/72. It was enough to pick up a much-needed win for the Blues. Rye was back to its old ways with the bat on Saturday,…

PENINSULA GUN Flinders batsman Tom Clements single-handedly won his team the match against Delacombe Park on Saturday after scoring a monster century. With his side in some early trouble at 2/5, chasing the Parkers 237, Clements took control of the situation, faced 224 balls, banged eight fours and six sixes and finished unbeaten in the 80th over on 151. While teammates continued to fall around him, Clements took it upon himself to win his team the match. Skipper Neil Barfuss hung around for 29 balls and made 29 and Brennan Gillies hit 22. Other than Will Tuck with 11, not…