Author: IT Gully

PROVINCIAL BAXTER rocketed from the bottom of the MPCA Provincial ladder to the top four on Saturday after a demolition on Rye that resulted in an outright win. After scoring a very modest 205 with just three batsmen making double figures, the Baxter bowlers then went to work and knocked over 18 wickets on the second day. Rye resumed at 2/12 on Saturday and added just six runs before the wickets started to tumble again. Andrew Hitchener (17) and Dean Collins (12) were the only Demons to get into double figures. Rye was dismissed the first time around in the…

SUB-DISTRICT DROMANA is in a very unfamiliar position after two rounds of the MPCA Sub District season – on top of the ladder. The Hoppers made light work of Hastings on Saturday, rolling the visitings for just 102. Recruit Aaron Kaddatz once again proved he is going to destroy this competition after claiming 5/21, while Jeff Bluhm bowled 18 overs and snared 4/41. Nathan Hunt top scored for the Blues with 32, while skipper Timmy Birch did all that he could with an unbeaten 28. Tootgarook went for the outright win against Tyabb, falling six wickets short. The Yabbies made…

SUB-DISTRICT Rosebud will head into day two of its match against Skye in a commanding position after belting 9/316 in 76 overs on Saturday. A superb 108 from young keeper Kane Donald set up the massive total, however, it came on the back of some solid early batting as well. Matt Maher scored 60 batting at four and skipper Brad Glenn hit 36. Jason Mathers was rolled for a duck. Pat Clish was the best of the Skye bowlers, claiming all five of the nine wickets. Skye faced the final four overs of the day but escaped without loss. Dromana…

DISTRICT IT’S been a long time since Heatherhill has dominated a day of cricket but it certainly did that on day one of their MPCA District clash against Flinders. The domination came on the back of young gun Kristian Miller, who smashed 133 against the Sharks. Opening the innings, Miller clubbed 18 fours and two sixes as he dominated all eight Flinders bowlers used to try and dismiss him. Jake Theobald provided solid support for him early with 35 before skipper Nathan Martin got in on the act and helped himself to 66. Miller was eventually dismissed by Max Royal…

PROVINCIAL LONG Island has placed itself in a commanding position against Pines in MPCA Provincial cricket after scoring 9/263 on day one of the match. Despite a shaky start that saw the home team 3/49, Islanders’ skipper Scott Phillips (70), along with Justin Bridgeman (31) took the score to 117. Strong performances from Andrew Tweddle (49) and keeper Michael Chaplin (42) in the middle order then ensured the Islanders batted out their 80 overs and posted a strong score. Craig Entwhistle and Nick Wilcox each claimed a couple of wickets each for the Piners. The Piners will need to bat…

SUB-DISTRICT DROMANA got its season underway in the best way possible on Saturday, winning its opening game with ease against Carrum Downs. The Hoppers have recruited well this season with Darren Kerr taking charge, while the likes of Aaron Kaddatz, Andrew West (both Somerville) and Jack Fowler (Boneo) have all followed. Kaddatz had an impact with both bat and ball, snaring 3/30 from 10 overs before hitting an unbeaten half century. Carrum Downs batted first and made 9/154 from 40 overs. Leon McConnell top scored with 34. In reply, the Hoppers scored 4/157 from 36 overs. Jack Fowler top scored…

PROVINCIAL LANGWARRIN’S highest ever run scorer, Simon McEvoy, turned back the clock on Saturday on the first day of the 2015-16 Provincial season, scoring an unbeaten 83 to guide his side to a shock win against Mornington. The Kangaroos, under the guidance of new coach Travis Campbell and assistant Jake Prosser, who returned from Pines, headed to the kennel with an inexperienced team which featured debutants Aaron Edwards and Mitch Bromley. It was a completely new-look team, without the likes of Danny Weare (retired), Michael Edwards (Tyabb), Andy Johnson (Carrum), Jake D’Atri (Carrum), Adrian Mack (rested), Mark Cooper (Warragul), Matt…

DISTRICT PEARCEDALE started its new life in District cricket having an immediate impact on Saturday, beating Carrum by four wickets. The Lions were expected to be one of the teams to beat in District cricket after picking up new captain Andy Johnson and Jake D’Atri from Langwarrin and Tom Burgdorf from Seaford Tigers, while keeping the likes of Shaun Foster, Josh Dent and Liam Dobson. However, on Saturday in the season opener, the Lions were crushed. Shaun Foster made 45 and Corey Foster hit 23 to be Carrum’s top scorers. Johnson failed with just seven. The Lions were bowled out…

PROVINCIAL MORNINGTON Peninsula Cricket Association reigning Provincial premiers, Mornington was knocked out of the top four on Saturday by Crib Point. Needing to win to keep their fourth position and take part in the finals, the Dogs needed just one wicket to pick up the vital victory. However, the fighting Magpies dug deep and scored the necessary runs in the final over to win by just two runs. There were emotional scenes at the conclusion of the match – elation and despair from the opposing teams. However, despite winning the game, Crib Point still missed out on a finals spot…

DISTRICT RED Hill will host Main Ridge in one MPCA District Semi Final while Somerville and Seaford will go head to head in the other after all four sides won in the final home and away game on Saturday. While five teams were vying for two top four positions heading into the final game, the equation was pretty simple for those under pressure, Seaford and Main Ridge. Their fate was in their own hands and a victory was enough to ensure they made the top bracket. And win they did, Seaford travelling to Boneo and getting the job done there…

SUB-DISTRICT IT was an epic conclusion to the MPCA Sub District cricket season on Saturday. There were six teams all vying for the top four positions on the ladder and a finals berth. Any of the teams that were in the top four could have lost their position depending on other results. As it turned out, only one team (Carrum Downs) that was in the four before the final game, lost its place. Pearcedale replaced the Cougars in the top bracket. The ladder, including points and the all important percentage, looked like this before the final home and away game:…

DISTRICT ONLY four of the six scheduled MPCA District matches got starts on Saturday. Seaford and Carrum, a critical match in the context of the season, as well as Somerville and Boneo, will be played this Saturday in a one day format. There was no stopping Red Hill though, who bounced back from their first loss of the season last week to post a massive 3/347 against Flinders at BA Cairns Reserve. However, despite posting the massive score, there were no triple figures from any of the five Hillmen bats who went out into the middle. Mind you, none of…

PROVINCIAL IT was an unbelievable day in MPCA Provincial cricket on Saturday. While the highest score for the day was a staggering 136, arguably the peninsula’s greatest ever player, Long Island’s Scott Phillips, was single handedly tearing up Heatherhill. The all-rounder snared nine wickets in a day, eight in the first innings and one in the second to have the Hills reeling at Bruce Park. Although heavy rain threatened matches across the peninsula, five of the six Provincial games got underway. Baxter and Crib Point will play a one-day match this Saturday after Baxter Park was unplayable for the second…

SUB-DISTRICT BALNARRING has yet another opportunity for an outright victory after dominating Dromana on Saturday in Sub-District cricket. Dromana won the toss and sent the Saints in to bat. It proved to be a pretty good decision when the Hoppers rolled the visitors for 168. Tim Jessup top scored for the Saints with 40, taking the place of David Ross, who didn’t play. Craig Dunlop was the pick of the bowlers for the Hoppers with 4/50 from 20 overs. Dromana needed to capitalise with the bat and failed to do so, bowled out for 62 in 28 overs. Jacob Cook…

COUNTRY WEEK THE Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association failed to have an impact in last week’s Country Week carnival for the first time in memory. The MPCA finished in sixth place on the table with just one win for the carnival. That win came in round one when the MPCA rolled South West at Melbourne University. Sorrento’s Corey Harris made 82 and Moorooduc’s Bobby Wilson an unbeaten 75 in that first game when the team scored 3/260. Long Island’s Justin Bridgeman and Mornington’s Luke Popov snared two wickets each as the MPCA rolled South West for 225. In Round two, despite…

DISTRICT THE log jam at the top of the MPCA District ladder continues after round nine was completed on Saturday. Main Ridge kept is finals hopes well and truly alive after recording a wonderful and commanding victory against the previously undefeated Red Hill. Skipper Brad Rossborough was magnificent in his side’s victory, beginning the day unbeaten on 32 and still standing at the end, still unbeaten on 180. Main Ridge made 6/303 to beat the Hillmen by almost 200 runs. Somerville resumed at 3/17 on Saturday against Carrum, chasing 122 for victory, however, Justin Allsop and Aaron Kaddatz put a…

PROVINCIAL Pines dealt Mt Eliza a further blow on Saturday when it taught it a cricket lesson in MPCA Provincial. And it was career defining for one Pines player who has always offered so much – Jake Prosser. After taking five wickets the week before with the ball, Prosser walked out and clubbed his maiden century, eventually falling for 114. Prosser shared a 100 plus partnership with his skipper Ricky Ramsdale, who made 103. The Piners smashed Mt Eliza to all parts of the ground and easily covered its total of 186. Pines was eventually bowled out in the 81st…

SUB-DISTRICT Frankston YCW has jumped back into the MPCA Sub District top four and given itself some breathing space after picking up an outright win against Ballam Park. The Stonecats only made 123 in reply to Ballam Park’s first innings score of 58 on the first day of the match last week. However they went into Saturday staring at the outright win. The Knights resumed at 4/34, still 31 behind with six wickets in hand. They finished with 165, giving the Stonecats plenty of work to do. John Plakourakis top scored for the Knights with 79. Andrew Kitson finished with…

MATT Foon will lead the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association in the Country Week Provincial squad at the championships that kick off this week around Victoria. There are some new faces in the squad adding to the ones we have been used to seeing over the journey, which speaks volumes about the strength and depth of the competition. Peninsula Old Boys star Matt Hyden was an obvious choice after accumulating plenty of runs this season. The competition’s best player, Scott Phillips, who has 400 runs this season and 38 wickets, will not play for the MPCA. Neither will Nick Jewell, who…

DISTRICT GOING into the third last round of MPCA District cricket, there are six teams all vying for a place in the finals. Top of the table Red Hill is assured its place, however, the race is well and truly on for the teams looking to occupy the final three placings. Whilst Somerville, Carrum and Mt Martha hold spots in the top bracket, Seaford and Main Ridge are waiting for any wrong move so they can swoop. And going on the results of the first day’s play of Round Nine, there is plenty of opportunities opening up. Red Hill hasn’t…

PROVINCIAL MORNINGTON’S quest to push into the MPCA Provincial cricket top four was dealt a boost on Saturday when it left the field after the first day with the upper hand against Baxter. In a must win game for the Dogs, they lost the toss and bowled first against the competition’s ladder leader and sent them packing after 67 overs. Luke Popov was at his vintage best for the visitors, bowling 18 overs and finishing with eight maidens and a super performance of 5/26. Sam Buchanan was brought into the attack late in the day and did the job for…

SUB-DISTRICT BALNARRING went from chocolates to boiled lollies in MPCA Sub District cricket on Saturday. After recording an outright victory in their last match and again putting themselves into finals contention, they failed with the bat on Saturday when placed under some real fire. Rosebud is looking to cement its place in the top four and even push for a place in the top two, a position it has held for the most of the season. The Buds hosted the Saints on Saturday, turned up the heat on the visitors and they wilted under the pressure. It’s one thing to…

DISTRICT SEAFORD has kept its MPCA District season alive with a superb win against arch rival Seaford Tigers. The Tigers appeared to have the upper hand in the clash heading into day two, however a superb knock from Damien Lawrence got the home side across the line. Seaford won the toss on day one and sent the Tigers into bat. It looked like a good move when they had the opposition 4/30 and 5/59, however, the Tigers scrambled to 9/236, thanks largely to 77 from skipper David James and more than 100 runs from the tail. Seaford was in all…

PROVINCIAL BAXTER shot to the top of the MPCA Provincial ladder on Saturday after beating Heatherhill outright. Heatherhill resumed its second innings at 0/19, still 48 runs behind Baxter’s first innings total. The Hills batted first on day one of the clash and made just 94 in 36.2 overs. Baxter came out firing and quickly made 8/161 in 35 overs before having another crack at the Hills late on the first day. The second innings was marginally better than the first for the Hills, making 109 in 39.3 overs, however it was never going to be enough to save the…

SUB-DISTRICT BALNARRING’S season came alive in MPCA Sub District cricket on Saturday after it won outright against Skye. The Saints started the match in sixth position and 20 points behind fourth place. However, the outright win sent them to fifth place on the table, just one game behind Carrum Downs. Balnarring bowled out Skye for 88 on day one before posting a quick fire 7/168. Skye fared much better on day two and managed to score 161 with Rob Gruar top scoring with 71. This left Balnarring 84 for victory. Ben King hit 45 to help the Saints to 3/91…

DISTRICT: SEAFORD Tigers, Somerville and Main Ridge will be fighting it out for the final two finals places in MPCA District this Saturday. The one-day matches are the last of the home and away season, with the Tigers, Eagles and Ridge all needing to win to have any hope of progressing through to the final four. Delacombe Park and Pines will definitely play finals after sealing the top two places on Saturday. Main Ridge has the easiest of matches this weekend, facing bottom-of-the-table Ballam Park. Somerville has to play the unpredictable Carrum while Seaford Tigers face Pines. Seaford Tigers had…

COUNTRY WEEK: BADEN Powell is Twenty20 state champion after beating Doutta Stars at the MCG last Friday. Doutta Stars were bowled out for 65 before the Braves got the runs with four wickets down. Rhys Elmi top-scored with 17 while Sam Mullavey was not out at the end on 10. With five wins in the MPCA Jack Peacock Cup last season, and five wins in the Statewide Cup this season, the Braves took a 10-game winning streak to the ’G. MPCA goes close to title The Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association went within 40 runs of claiming the title of best association…

PROVINCIAL: THE make-up of the MPCA Provincial ladder will not be decided until the conclusion of this weekend’s final home and away clash. While Sorrento and Mornington have locked away the top two places on the ladder, the race for third and fourth place is on. Long Island currently sits third after thrashing Langwarrin at Ballam Park on Saturday. The Islanders are on 84 points, a game clear of fourth-placed Mt Eliza, fifth-placed Baxter and Langwarrin in sixth. The Mounties, Baxter and Langwarrin are all on 72 points and are separated marginally by percentage (1.2525, 1.2162 and 1.2030 respectively). Mt Eliza…

SUB-DISTRICT: FRANKSTON YCW will play finals for the first time in ages after defeating Carrum Downs on Saturday. The Stonecats are now in second place on the MPCA Sub-district ladder on 80 points, two games behind Red Hill (104 points). The fight for the remaining two finals spots is well and truly on. Balnarring and Rosebud are both on 72 points while Pearcedale and Skye are a game further back on 60 points. The Stonecats play Red Hill this week in the final game of the season, a one-day match. Even if the Stonecats were to lose, they cannot miss finals.…

PROVINCIAL BAXTER is in line to pull off one of the wins of the season in round 10 of MPCA Provincial cricket. Baxter is looking down the barrel of an outright win against Heatherhill after rolling the visitors for just 85. Coming into the second-last match of the season, Baxter was sitting outside of the top four, albeit equal on points with third-placed Mt Eliza, fourth-placed Langwarrin and sixth-placed Long Island. The loser of the Langwarrin versus Long Island game can kiss the finals goodbye. Mt Eliza was always going to get the job done against Moorooduc and, while Baxter…