By Justin Flynn
The Geelong Cricket Association final four is set with two rounds left to play.
North Geelong, East Belmont, Newtown & Chilwell and Grovedale will all feature in the finals after claiming victories over the bottom four teams on Saturday February 18.
St Joseph’s and South Barwon needed to win to have any chance of featuring in the semi-finals, but were downed by North Geelong and Newtown & Chilwell respectively.
North Geelong completed a five-wicket win with almost 20 overs to spare.
Joeys made 9/189 batting first with Jonathon Casey (46) and Austin Humphrey (36) playing well, but Tom Mathieson (3/49) and Brad Apps (2/30) kept the total to less than 200.
Sam Hall then blasted 82 from just 50 deliveries and Ned Cooper, batting one spot lower at No 3, regained form with 45 to help the Magpies over the line despite Cameron Port (3/22 from 10 overs) bowling well.
Sam Mitchell batted with patience and skill for Newtown & Chilwell in a 16-run win against South Barwon.
Mitchell made 70 from 133 deliveries in the Two Blues’ score of 9/210.
Three wickets each for Nick Platt, Bryson Nicholls and Brad Hauenstein kept South Barwon in the hunt.
Half-centuries to Pat Richards and Nicholls gave South a shot at winning, but Pat McKenna stepped up to snare four wickets and George Rhodes claimed three to give the Two Blues a precious six points.
A superb 97 from Casey Young wasn’t enough to get Lara the win against East Belmont.
Young’s 149-ball innings produced 14 boundaries, but Lara couldn’t chase down the 191-run target.
Earlier in the day, Josh Lacey (54) and Sean O’Neill (40) helped East Belmont to 5/190 with all batters finding Daniel Hughes (1/15 from 10 overs) difficult to get away.
Half-centuries to Jordan Moran (56) and Jack Wrigglesworth (53) helped Grovedale to a total of 6/220 against Highton.
Spinner Bailey Sykes (3/44), Clinton Ford (2/27) and Wrigglesworth (2/25) then made sure of the six points and a finals berth despite a fine 65 from Highton opener Greg Willows.
