Koony edge out Invy to advance to Final

• B Grade, Division 1

KOONWARRA L/RSL hosted Inverloch at the Koonwarra Recreation Reserve and the hosts won the toss and chose to bat first in the 50 over a side contest. 

Several of the Cougars top order got off to starts but fell prior to going on any further as they slumped to 3/45 to start out. 

Things improved though as their skipper James Rushton (43 from 67) was able to put together a 43-run partnership with Michael Thomas (11) and then a 33-run stand with Matthew Boswell (0), before the pair were dismissed and Koony fell to 7/122, thanks to some excellent bowling from Josh Williams (3/27 from 6).

A great fightback from the Stingrays after they lost their captain Warren Williams to a shoulder injury. 

In the end, the Cougars battled to the end of their 50 overs and finished 9/162. 

In the second innings, the Stingrays didn’t get off to the greatest of starts, losing Brad Phillips early without scoring, then Chris Terlich (8) to be 2/32. 

With Riley Harris (15) joining Brett Debono (31 from 92) at the crease, the visitors were still every chance, but after they’d advanced the score by 36, Harris fell and Debono soon followed. 

The dismissal ultimately marked the end of what has been a superb season for the Invy left hander who amassed over 550 runs at an average of 71. 

John Richardson (18) and Rhys Newman (4) then battled hard but also fell in relatively quick succession, before the wicket of Josh Williams (4) made it 5/33 since the loss of Harris. 

Amad Mujtaba(40* from 30)  tried fearlessly to keep his team’s season alive with an exciting late foray but it just wasn’t enough, Inverloch falling 12-runs shy finishing 8/150 at the 50 over mark. 

Nathan Trotto (3/29 from 10) was exceptional with the ball, he’ll look to do the same for his team next week when they face Nerrena in the Grand Final at the Meeniyan Recreation Reserve. 

Nerrena set for final’s showdown 

MINOR premiers Nerrena eared the right to host a Semi Final and they did so last Saturday when they welcomed MDU to the Nerrena Recreation Reserve.

The hosts won the toss and chose to bat first and they sure made good work of that, posting a huge total, at 3/281 after 50 overs.

They got contributions from all five batters who took the pitch, including half centuries to Lachlan Roberts (50 from 91) and James Kelly (71* from 98). 

Kurt Sinclair (1/22 from 10) was the pick of the bowlers for MDU. 

In reply, the Demons found it much tougher, losing both openers early with the score on just three.

This didn’t spell the end for them though, as Wayne Prosser (38 from 71) and Matt Martin (76 from 50) put on an outstanding 122-run stand to get their side back in it. 

Although they both fell with the score on 125, making it hard once again for the Dees’, who stumbled at 6/133, losing 4/8 after Martin and Prosser’s partnership. 

The visiting captain Craig Hoober (43* from 61) tried his best to keep the Dees’ season alive but the damage was ultimately done, as the Red Caps cleaned up the MDU tail to cap off the 80-run win. 

Jaxon Checkley (3/16 from 10) was the best with the ball in the win, his side will now advance to the B grade division one Grand Final, where they’ll take on Koonwarra L/RSL and look to complete the minor premiership/premiership double.

• B Grade, Division 2

OMK bowlers wreck Phillip Island’s choice to bat

SCOTT Handley helped Outtrim Moyarra Kongwak ensure Phillip Island’s batsmen couldn’t prosper after the Sharks chose to set a target.

Handley’s medium pace proved a destructive force despite bowling just five overs, snaring five wickets including that of Phillip Island captain Connor Epifano and conceding just 16 runs.

Justin Greenwood took 3/37 off 10 overs, with the Sharks batsmen unable to get on top of any of the OMK attack.

While OMK was set a meagre 105 for victory, a couple of early wickets gave Phillip Island hope.

However, club president Russell White (54 not out) and Greenwood (31 not out) ensured there was no collapse as the Diggers charged to an eight-wicket win.

“We just ticked along, me and Greenwood, and waited for the bad ball,” White said.

Tarryn Allan was the best of the Sharks’ attack, managing a tidy 1/31 from 10 overs, giving his side hope when he knocked over OMK opener Robert Quaife for just 10.

Top-placed OMK marched into the B2 final, taking on Leongatha Town at Leongatha Secondary College.

Nerrena has no answers against hot Leongatha Town bowlers

NERRENA chose to bat at Meeniyan Recreation Reserve, but none of its batsmen got a foothold against the devastating Leongatha Town bowlers.

Eventual man of the match Levi Hickey led the way for the Scorpions, with the right arm medium pacer’s unerring line and length paying dividends as he reaped figures of 5/10 off just over nine overs.

Lachie Gill, who played some A Grade cricket last season, also impressed with his medium pace, snavelling 3/24 off his 10 overs.

While Leongatha Town opener Matt Davies fell early in the small chase and opening partner and captain Mark Hardy was also dismissed, aggressive batting from Luke Bowman carried the Scorpions to victory in just 14 overs.

He remained unbeaten on 28, with 20 of those runs coming from boundaries.

Will Croatto’s medium fast deliveries weren’t rewarded with a breakthrough but he was the tidiest of the Nerrena bowlers, conceding just 16 runs off his five overs.

Poly Joseph claimed the early wicket of Davies but bowled just three overs, taking 1/10.

While Leongatha Town finished third and will battle it out with top-placed OMK for the B2 title, Scorpions president Cam Dowling doesn’t consider there is any real favourite in what should be a cracker of a game.