North Geelong will host St Peters and Leopold will travel to South Barwon for next Tuesday’s Geelong Cricket Association T20 Division 1 semi-finals.
The Magpies knocked off Highton in a low-scoring quarter-final on Tuesday 13 January while Leopold is the only GCA2 club remaining after it defeated Newtown & Chilwell.
South Barwon had few difficulties in defeating Lara and St Peters won by four wickets with almost five overs remaining against East Belmont.
Spin played a crucial role in North Geelong’s win. Leggie Ben Demasi (4/13) left-arm orthodox bowler Bailey Sykes (2/20) and right-arm offie Victor Morrow (2/21) did the damage with Highton all out for 78 in pursuit of the Magpies’ 109.
Morrow also made 26 earlier in the game and Sam Hall also hit 26. Isaac Bird bowled well for the Heat with 3/15 and Hayden Murrell and Errol Burns each snared two wickets.
Tom Treble (59 from 43 balls) and Joseph Vallelonga (40 off 32) helped Leopold to 5/165. In reply, Pat McKenna made 52 from 35 deliveries, but Gurpreet Singh spearheaded South Barwon to a win by taking 2/19 in Lara’s innings of 8/138 and then scoring 22 at the top of the order.
Vishesh Malhotra made a typically hard-hitting 51 from 24 balls for Lara, but captain Nick Butters (55 not out) and Sam Ellis (22) got South Barwon home with six wickets and seven balls to spare.
Newtown & Chilwell was all out for 151 Lachlan Neate taking 4/20.
St Peters booked a spot in a semi-final, reaching 6/132 on the first ball of the 16th over in reply to East Belmont’s 7/131.
Lethbridge booked a semi-final spot with a thrilling win against Marshall in the Division 2 quarter-finals.
A blistering 102 not out from just 51 deliveries by Lachie Cameron gave the Bears a chance and they would have been happy with a total of 5/171. Cameron belted eight boundaries and seven sixes and didn’t come in until his side was 2/27 in the 6th over.
Tom Saunders then clubbed an unbeaten 87 from 52 balls and Anand Choudhary made 29 with the Rosellas getting the runs with just one wicket and three deliveries remaining.
Newcomb & District knocked off the only BPCA club remaining in either competition with a six-wicket win against Wallington, Waurn Ponds Deakin held off Thomson to win by nine runs and Bannockburn defeated Murgheboluc by seven wickets.
GCA T20 SEMI-FINALS
Tuesday 20 January, 5pm
Division 1
North Geelong vs St Peters at Zenviron Oval (Osborne Park), North Geelong
South Barwon vs Leopold at Reynolds Oval, Belmont
Division 2
Newcomb & District vs Bannockburn at Grinter Reserve, Newcomb
Lethbridge vs Waurn Ponds Deakin at Lethbridge Recreation Reserve
