By JIM TIMBERLAKE
With one game left to play in Victorian Premier Cricket this season, Geelong will seek to continue its recent run of good form against Kingston Hawthorn after a fantastic win against Greenvale last Saturday.
In pursuit of the Kangaroos 293, the Cats began disastrously, falling to 2/31 early.
But skipper Eammon Vines dug deep and in an innings of high concentration over four hours racked up a match winning 117 to show why he is still regarded as a big chance to play higher in the not-too-distant future.
He received good support from Meyrick Buchanan (85) and Hayden Butterworth (62 not out) as the Cats eventually cruised to a commanding five-wicket win.
Coach Andre Borovec will be pleased that the building blocks he put in place early in the season are starting to pay off and will know that a win in their final game of the season will go a long way to a positive pre-season for his young side.
In the Geelong Cricket Association, Lara looks like heading into the finals in good form holding East Belmont to just 8/188 declared before wiping 21 runs off the deficit from its three overs at the crease.
On a wicket that favoured the bowlers for most of the day, Andrew Baars stood firm with 55 in a four-hour stay at the crease while even Matt Lineker, who normally makes it look easy, struggled to get a feel for the conditions in his 49.
For the Cats, Danny Hughes consistently hit the seam to take 4/47 while Luke Wilson enjoyed the bouncy conditions to claim 2/50.
Dave Lineen managed to snag a late wicket for the Lions as Lara reached 1/21 at stumps but will need to take a few early ones on Saturday if he wants his side to go into the finals with winning form.
In division two it was wickets galore as some of the teams which fancied to play a big role in the finals could only manage some very low scores.
Modewarre was bundled out for just 84 by Highton thanks to Zac Smith’s 7/17.
In reply the Heat lost both openers early but Michael Kenneady ensured it would take the points with a blistering unbeaten century.
Across at Marshall, the reigning premiers would have hoped to enjoy some good batting practice prior to finals however Bell Park had other ideas as it ran through its hosts for just 103.
Mitch Trask was the destroyer taking 6/28.
Marshall did fight back to reduce Bell Park to 9/129 at stumps but the damage was done and unless it can pull off a rare backdoor outright it will find itself finishing a bit lower on the table than it would have hoped.
And in division three, premiership favourites Shelford will have the perfect test run before the finals as has been set 248 to win by Guild St Marys.
Jeewan De Silva made an impressive 120 in his last game for the club while for Shelford veteran Shane Lymer took the bowling honours with 3/77.
It won’t be an easy run chase, though, as De Silva is one of the premier bowlers in the competition with his crafty spin.
If Shelford can get these runs, its premiership odds will come right in.
