Barrabool’s quest for a Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association A1 Grade finals spot remains on track after a solid batting display against Jan Juc on day one of the final round on Saturday 28 February.
The Bulls simply need to win to stay in the four and compiled 237 all out at Bob Pettit Reserve, Jan Juc.
Opener Shane Stevens again anchored the innings with 51 from 161 balls and Aaron Pickering made 30 with Barrabool 1/129 just before Stevens’ dismissal.
Kane Pickering’s superb form continued with 74 from 167 deliveries while Sharks’ seamer Jordy Graham again shouldered the bowling workload.
Graham took 5/65 from 28 probing overs and will finish the season with 35 wickets at an average of 15.28 and a stunning economy rate of 2.73 runs per over. Spinner Tom Kearney took 3/57 from 15 overs.
QUEENSCLIFF is also on track for a finals spot and is control against Drysdale.
Also needing to win to guarantee a semi-final, the Coutas declared at 9/227 with Hayden Illingworth (46 not out), Tom Bakker (34), Jordan Monahan (32 off 26 balls), Frank Mileto (31) and Lachie Kidd (28) all contributing.
Blake Dobbin took 4/64 from 22 overs to finish with 27 for the season while slow bowler Ben Spencer snared 3/47 from 21 overs for Drysdale.
With two overs before stumps, Monahan struck with his first delivery to have the Hawks 1/5 going into day two.
THE clash between Anglesea and Armstrong Creek still has a lot to play out, but the Titans are favourites.
Armstrong Creek needs to win to play finals, although if other results don’t go their way, they can still overtake Anglesea on percentage, which would require them to pass the target of 146 with as few wickets down as possible.
Ash Poulton top scored for the Seas with 49 not out from 178 deliveries in the face of some tight bowling. Simon Umbers made 34, but it was paceman Ted Walliss who gave Armstrong Creek the upper hand with a superb spell to finish with 6/39 from 15 overs.
In reply, the Titans negotiated the four overs remaining safely to end at 0/8.
INVERLEIGH could well be relegated after Saturday’s final game, but gave undefeated Barwon Heads some serious headaches.
The Kookaburras were superb with the ball, restricting the runaway ladder leaders to 9/190.
The Heads struggled to get the attack away with Cameron McKinley (44 from 135 balls) and Dan Donaldson (37 from 113) digging after losing two early wickets.
Left-arm seamer Daniel Midolo again proved hard to score from and finished with a deserved 5/53 from 22 overs while Murphy Walker’s right-arm seam was rewarded with 2/29 from 22 overs, including the wickets of McKinley and Donaldson.
