Barwon Heads leapfrogged Anglesea on the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association A1 grade ladder and will host a semi-final this weekend.
The Seagulls successfully defended 220 against Jan Juc while Anglesea was unable to chase down Drysdale’s 199.
The loss meant Jan Juc missed out on finals with Barrabool sneaking in on percentage even though it lost to Queenscliff. Armstrong Creek won the minor premiership with a comfortable win against relegation-bound Ocean Grove.
Jan Juc needed to win and at times it looked like it would. Jack Taylor made a polished 70, but the Sharks needed one of Nick Hyden (28), Alex Rowden (25) and Peter Buszard (23) to go on.
Leg-spinner Dan Donaldson put in a big shift and netted 4/59 from 23.3 overs while seamer Harry Hyland snared two top-order wickets as the Sharks were dismissed for 199.
Drysdale seamer David Sykes added to his four late wickets last week to snare a five-for on his 52nd birthday. The left-armer took 5/39 from 18.4 overs to have Anglesea all out for 113. At one stage the Seas were 6/16, but Jaron Lengyel (36) and Victor Morrow (35) put some respectability to the scoreboard. Blake Dobbin made a miraculous recovery from injury to snare four wickets for the Hawks.
Queenscliff had no trouble passing Barrabool’s 209. Toby Smith made 60 and Lochie Philp 54 while Lachie Kidd smashed 86 from just 42 deliveries when time was called with the innings at 6/264. James Fisher took four wickets for the Bulls.
Armstrong Creek claimed the minor premiership and sent Ocean Grove packing down to A2 Grade. The Titans took 45 overs to reach their target of 149 with opener Chris Marsiglio (50) and Ben Norgrove (35 not out) getting runs.
In A2 Grade, Corey Walter and Harrisyn Wingrave set all sorts of records with a 363-run partnership as Collendina amassed 7/559 against St Leonards.
Wallington defeated Newcomb outright to claim the minor premiership. Shane Healy (60) provided resistance in the second innings, but the Wallabies would have been pleased with the wickets being shared around in both innings.
Portarlington won the battle for fourth place against Surf Coast. Chasing 260 for a finals spot, the Suns were well served by Richard Dawes, who made a fine 82, but the Demons had too many runs on the board with Tom Stewart (4/35) and Matthew Long (3/39) bowling well.
Winchelsea put up a brave fight against Inverleigh, falling 12 runs short of the victory target of 211. Shane Murdoch (67) made runs while left-armer Danny Midolo took 5/54 for the Kookaburras.
SEMI-FINALS
Saturday March 15 & Sunday March 16, 1pm start
A1 Grade
Armstrong Creek vs Barrabool at Armstrong Creek East Sports Precinct
Barwon Heads vs Anglesea at RT Fuller Oval, Barwon Heads
A2 Grade
Saturday March 15 & Sunday March 16, 1pm start
Wallington vs Portarlington at Oakdene Oval
Inverleigh vs Collendina at Inverleigh Recreation Reserve
