Lara upset finals bound Grovedale in Round 11 of Geelong Cricket Association on Saturday February 11 to throw the composition of the final four wide open.
The win was a reward for effort for the Cats although the 15-point gap between them and Grovedale looks a bridge too far to feature in the finals.
Lara batted first at Burdoo Reserve with teenage opener Kaden Marum (54) registering his fourth score of 50 or more for the season.
Danny Hughes played an aggressive hand of 54 from just 42 deliveries in the middle order to help push Lara’s total up to 9/217 from 50 overs.
If not for the efforts of Clinton Ford, Grovedale would have been chasing 250-plus. Ford didn’t take a wicket, but conceded just six runs from 10 immaculate overs while Sam Coutts took 3/56.
For Grovedale, only Michael McNeel looked like getting on top of the bowling with 56.
Hughes, Casey Young, Blake Ash and Jaymee Guy all picked up two wickets to help bundle the Tigers out for 127.
Newtown & Chilwell made certain of a final appearance in March with a win against second placed East Belmont.
Hayden McMahon (47) and Sean O’Neill (44) played well for East Belmont, but 181 was always going to be difficult to defend.
Dylan Hodge put the ball in the right areas to claim 4/26 for the Two Blues, who then chased down the target with six wickets and 38 balls remaining.
Chay Deary made an unbeaten 73 and the in-form Tom Meredith hit 47 for Newtown & Chilwell.
Luke Ibbs inspired St Joseph’s to a big win against Highton with a superb century.
Ibbs hit eight boundaries and a six in his 103 while Riley Pickering (56) and Andrew Hodgson (55 not out) also contributed in the imposing final total of 3/253.
Most of Highton’s middle order got starts, including Zac Wills (41), but a final score of 179 was well short.
Brandon Purcell and Cameron Port snared three wickets each for Joeys.
North Geelong went a game clear on top of the ladder with an 86-run win against South Barwon.
A 62-ball 64 from skipper Tom Mathieson at No 9 helped the Magpies to 9/182 off 50 overs.
Bryson Nicholls, although expensive, bowled well to the top order and took 4/60 for South Barwon.
Bradley Apps (4/34) and Thomas Bagg (4/20) then stepped in to bowl South Barwon out for 96.
