DISTRICT
THE day certainly belonged to the bowlers on the opening day of round eight in MPCA District cricket on Saturday.
In the first two day game of the new year, Red Hill was the only team to make it past 200, scoring 201 against Heatherhill.
The next highest team score was 165, hit by Baden Powell against Mt Martha.
The lowest score of the round was 74 after Seaford were bowled out by Rye. The Demons are in a winning position at 5/111 in reply.
The match at Seaford Reserve was the real story of the day with the home side already losing on first innings to the Demons.
Rye went into the game with zero wins for the 2016/17 season and four outright losses in just seven games.
Boneo is also on zero points after losing seven from seven matches, none by outright.
The team that finishes bottom will be relegated to Sub District next season and many predicted that it would come down to the final round of the season when Rye hosts Boneo in a one day game to determine who is booted.
However, Rye is in a position to put some real pressure on the Pandas if they can go on and win this match against Seaford.
Ryan McQueen was the top scorer for Seaford with 25 while Mathew Herbert hit 22. There were four ducks in Seaford’s card.
Max Cairns was superb for the Demons with 6/34 from 13 overs while Tom Baron snared 4/38 from 13 overs.
In reply, the Demons are 5/111 after Andrew Hitchener top scored with 39. Tim Symons and Cooper Morks are the not out batsmen, both on 16.
The scenario may stay the same of a final round showdown if Boneo can cause an upset over Delacombe Park.
The Pandas rolled the Parkers for just 132 on Saturday and are just 120 runs away from victory in reply.
Lachlan Yeoman top scored for Delacombe with 28 while Jon Guthrie hit 23. Chris Jobling and Daniel Wilson took three wickets each for Boneo.
Stuey Peck is not out, along with Wilson and one thinks if Peck can turn back the clock and be there at the end, the Pandas will win the game. The will resume at 1/12.
Shaun Foster is once again holding Main Ridge together after his side collapsed trying to reach Flinders’ target of 127.
Foster is unbeaten on 41 in the chase, his team to resume at 3/46.
Earlier, the Ridge did extremely well with the ball, holding the Sharks to just 127 after Blake Hogan-Keogh again saved the day for the home side with 54.
Luke Collins and Nick McNamara were the pick of the Main Ridge bowlers with 3/33 and 3/28 respectively. Sam Lyons picked up 2/18.
Matt Burns was the man to get the job done with the ball for the Sharks, snaring all three of Main Ridges’ wickets in eight overs for just eight runs.
Mt Martha is in a world of pain against Baden Powell.
After restricting the Braves to 165, Mt Martha is struggling at 3/32 in reply with Mitchel Darville, Riley Shaw and Kyle Bendle all back in the sheds.
The Reds’ key bowlers did the job, Curtis Stone taking 4/35 and Rhys Whitling 3/40.
Rosebud will need to bowl at their best to beat Seaford Tigers after being bowled out for 113.
Brian Doughty top scored with 32 while Billy Quigley hit 26. In reply, the Tigers are 1/19.
Red Hill is red hot favourite to beat Heatherhill.
The Hillmen made 201 with Simon Dart again dominating with 62, while Andrew Mock made 34 and Glenn Collett a very timely 28.
In reply, the Hills are 2/17 after Dart snared 2/6 from his opening four overs. The Hills faced the final 10 overs of the day.
