Cats put out of misery

Geelong Cricket Club was finally put out of its misery last Saturday when it was dismissed for 157 in just 36.1 overs in pursuit of Essendon’s 9/304 declared.
Hayden Butterworth top scored with 53 and when the Cats were asked to bat again he backed it up with 66 in the second dig.
Still, he will see this as a wasted season and will look to return to his best next campaign.
Eamonn Vines scored an unbeaten 71 second time around and would have to be pleased with his season, the youngster emerging as a real star of the competition.
To be fair, the club lacked the depth of previous seasons and no one could question the players’ application or efforts – they were just simply outclassed most weeks.
The club will look to find a new coach after Damian Shanahan resigned from the role last week with two years remaining on his contract.
While he did a fantastic job, perhaps a new face might be just the tonic the young squad needs.
The Third XI will now carry the hopes of the club after earning the right to contest the finals. The thirds will take on St Kilda at home this weekend.
In Geelong Cricket Association, Grovedale look the most likely to pinch the last spot in the finals after finding form at just the right time against South Barwon.
Chris Young took 4/29, while Brendan Allen leant support with 2/18 as the Tigers dismissed their hosts for just 134.
In reply, Grovedale moved to 1/33 at stumps, with the Tigers’ destiny in their own hands tomorrow.
Murgheboluc looks like dropping out of the six after arriving at Richmond Crescent on Saturday to find Geelong City had rolled out a severely under-prepared wicket.
The Frogs were unsurprisingly asked to bat first and could manage just 57, which was almost enough as they rolled City for 67.
With still plenty of time left, Murgheboluc had to bat again and struggled to 6/84 at stumps.
It will be interesting to see what sort of conditions are presented tomorrow and also what sort of action the GCA takes on the matter.
In division two, St Peter’s looks to have sixth place in the bag after restricting Guild St Mary’s to 132 before cruising to 0/27 at stumps.
Will Turnley took 3/7, although all the Saints bowlers did their bit with a wicket each.
While Newcomb & District looks like winning outright against Alexander Thomson, it will be in vain because the team will finish one point behind the Saints.
Division three looks like having its most exciting final day in years, with two sides still capable of securing the vital sixth spot on the ladder.
Sixth placed Bell Park managed just 149 against eighth placed Little River, which finished at 4/42 in reply.
However, seventh placed Winchelsea threw a spanner in the works, setting up a possible outright result against Corio.
The Blues bowled out their visitors for just 106 before powering to 2/159 at the close of play.
Winchelsea already securing the points means Little River won’t contest this year’s finals.
Winch will earn a finals place if it can win on the second innings but if defeated will hope its first innings points will be enough if Little River can chase down 150.