BALFOUR BRILLIANCE, BEARS GO BIG
By Richard Millott
After being humbled last week against Lysterfield, Knoxfield have struck back to be on the winners list after a Jake Balfour-inspired chase against Ferntree Gully Footballers at Carrington.
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The Griffins blazed away early thanks to Lachie Storey (30 from 26 balls) before the Knights made breakthroughs at regular intervals. Liam Hunt provided (33) a start through the middle order, before some late hitting brought the visitors score to 9/199. A flurry of wickets defined the start of the Knights’ chase, falling to 3/21 before Matt Plumridge (36) and Balfour came to the crease. The duo put on 120 runs for the 4th wicket, with Balfour going at better than a run-a-ball towards a century, being dismissed just shy of the target for 117 from 92 balls, including 10 fours and 5 sixes. The Knights overcame the target in the 38th over with 4 wickets in hand. The Knights are on the road to Belgrave next week, whilst for the Griffins they travel to Upper Ferntree Gully seeking to rebound.
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The Basin have put the competition on notice after blasting to a huge win over Belgrave. Winning the toss and electing to bat, the visitors kept the scorers busy with the top order firing. Blake Walter (72 off 69), Jake Sherriff (71 off 69), Adam Masters (65* off 40) and Jayden Turcinovic (76* off 37) gave the Magpie bowlers no reprieve as they mustered 3/324 from their overs. In response, Jordon King provided resistance at the top order for the Magpies, reaching 51 not out and carrying the bat throughout the innings. However the Bear bowlers, lead by Matt Heskes (3/23) and Nick Freeling (3/24) were able to stifle any contest, dismissing the hosts for 124. The Basin travel to Fair Park against Johnson Park next week, whilst Belgrave host Knoxfield.
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There were runs aplenty at Monbulk, with the hosts playing against Ferntree Gully. The Blues took first use of the facilities, with Jayden Bradbury (71) leading the way on the scoresheet, whilst Rhys Hayes-Rosario (43) provided some lower order heroics to push the score to 9/204. For the Hawks, Duncan Maher was the pick of the bowling, claiming 3/25 from his 8 overs. In response, the hosts knuckled down in search of the target, with Justin Creed (59) the first to depart at 1/104. Aaron Bermingham carried on with the task before being dismissed for 78, whilst Jason Fraser reached 50 not out before the target, 3/206 reached on the third-last ball of the day. Monbulk now travel to Eildon Park for Round 3, whilst for the Blues it’s a trip back home to face Upwey.
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Lysterfield have made it 2 from 2 after Eildon Park ran their visitors in a close encounter. The Beavers lost 2 quick wickets to be 2/11 however Jake Arundell (47) and Nathan Walsh (53) fought back against the Panther attack, lead by Jarrod Hicks (3/19). The visitors reach 9/173 at the end of their innings. David Smyth (54) and Ryan Williamson (37) fought against the bowlers, but the Beaver attack equally toiled hard, with Lachie Dobson leading the way to claim 3/33. Ultimately the Panther chase ran just short, the final wicket falling in the final over for 162, leaving the visitors 11-run victors. Lysterfield host Knox Gardens next week, whilst for Eildon Park they will pay host to Monbulk.
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Upwey travelled to Knox Gardens Reserve in their matchup against the Falcons. Electing to send their hosts in to bat first, Jack Taylor made sure the Falcons started on the right foot, reaching 41 with the score at 2/69. The Tiger bowlers were at their meagre best, Cam Wheeler claiming 3/14 from 8 overs and Steve Gannell 3/17 from 8 overs. The Falcons were dismissed at the 39th over, 161 on the board. In reply, the Tigers started the chase well with Julian Whetstone (34) starting well before Jackson Waters (46) and Cam Wheeler (57*) carried on with the task, reaching 4/164. Upwey travel to Ferntree Gully next week, whilst Knox Gardens travel to take on Lysterfield.
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Johnson Park are on the board after seeing off Upper Ferntree Gully at Dandenong Club Oval. The Sharks batted first, with Steve Devenish leading the scoring with 72 with support on the scoresheet from Liyan De Silva (39). With the ball, Jayden Cutts (3/37) lead the way for the Kings to restrict the visitors to 190. In reply, the Kings got off to a solid start before losing quick wickets – a position which saw the Kings behind the 8-ball chasing to regain. The Shark bowlers shared wickets around, with the Kings falling in the 36th over for 142. Johnson Park face The Basin at Fair Park next week, whilst for the Kings they host Ferntree Gully Footballers.
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In Decoite Shield, St Johns Tecoma could do no wrong against Mountain Gate in a big win, with Jake Sali carrying the bat in an unbeaten century effort. The visitors chose correctly to bat first with both Sali and Kyle Chandler making the Gators chase leather without loss, before Chandler departed after reaching 83 with the score at 1/129. Sali carried on, reaching 106 not out as the Saints notched up 3/235. In reply, the Gators were unable to get a footing to commence the chase from, compounded with the Saints claiming regular wickets. The hosts were unable to find a way to come close to the target, dismissed for 94. St Johns Tecoma return to Talaskia to host Rowville, whilst for Mountain Gate they host Olinda for Round 3.
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Olinda joined the winners list after chasing down South Belgrave. South were on the back foot early after a flurry of wickets saw the hosts at 4/19. Ohlsson D’Sylva grinded away later in the order to reach 46 as the lead batsman, however it was the Olinda bowlers who shone brightest – Liam Humphries (3/25) and Josh Langer (3/20) both having the ball under their command to dismiss South Belgrave for 141. In reply, Michael Hyett (47) contributed to the top order scoresheet however D’Sylva struck back with the ball – 4/23 swinging the match in either direction. Ultimately, the hosts reached the required target with 2 overs to spare with 2 wickets in hand for a handy 6 points. Olinda now travel down to HV Jones Reserve against Mountain Gate, whilst for South Belgrave they face Knox Gardens at Knox Gardens.
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Rowville saw off the challenge from Knox Gardens to claim the win at Seebeck Reserve. Monto Perera (60) and Darren Hill (36*) helped the Hawks to 8/201, with Drew Withers (3/19) and Nixon Adcock (3/34) the pick of the Falcon bowling. In reply, Lachlan Stuckey (43) and Hayden Morrison (37) batted valiantly towards the target, however the young Falcons fell short, dismissed for 182. Rowville travel to play St Johns Tecoma, whilst Knox Gardens now face South Belgrave at home.
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NORM REEVES SHIELD – PROVISIONAL LADDER (AFTER ROUND 2)
UPWEY – 12PTS (3.210%)
THE BASIN – 12PTS (3.022%)
LYSTERFIELD – 12PTS (1.938%)
MONBULK – 12PTS (1.641%)
Johnson Park – 6pts (1.064%)
FTG Footballers – 6pts (1.000%)
Ferntree Gully – 6pts (0.714%)
Knoxfield – 6pts (0.676%)
Upper FTG – 0pts (0.744%)
Eildon Park – 0pts (0.738%)
Knox Gardens – 0pts (0.578%)
Belgrave – 0pts (0.170%)
DECOITE SHIELD – PROVISIONAL LADDER (AFTER ROUND 2)
ST JOHNS TECOMA – 12PTS (3.318%)
SOUTH BELGRAVE – 6PTS (1.764%)
KNOX GARDENS – 6PTS (0.903%)
OLINDA – 6PTS (0.800%)
Rowville – 6pts (0.617%)
Mountain Gate – 0pts (0.369%)
