SUB-DISTRICT: BALNARRING and Frankston YCW will play finals in MPCA Sub-district despite losing their matches on the weekend.
In a great warm up for the pointy end of the season, the four finalists played their ladder rivals on Saturday. Strangely enough, they will not meet in the first week of finals.
Top-of-the-table Red Hill was too strong for the Stonecats and knocked them down to third place on the ladder while Rosebud shot to second place and a home final after beating Balnarring.
It was a high-scoring and very entertaining game at Balnarring Reserve on Saturday. The home side won the toss, batted and put together what many believed was a winning score of 5/235 in the 40 overs.
Peter Doughty was the best of the Buds’ bowlers with 3/44.
The Buds lost their first three wickets for just 42 runs before Matty Maher and Darren Kerr came together in the middle. Maher made 72 and Kerr 38, and the Buds made the runs (7/239) with an over to spare.
Red Hill made light work of YCW. The Hillmen batted first and skipper Simon Dart was at his best with 111. Rheede Hopgood scored 44 and Riley Shaw 28 to help the home side to 6/250.
In reply, the Stonecats could only manage 8/149 in its 40 overs.
Brent Martin was the pick of the Hillmen bowlers with 4/19 and Jamie McCall snared 2/35.
In other matches, Tootgarook (5/138) was too strong for Dromana (134), Pearcedale (4/179) easily accounted for Carrum Downs (152), and Skye (141) defeated Tyabb (2/144).
