Armstrong Creek opener Clay Mulgrew reaffirmed his standing as one of the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association’s best batters with a superb unbeaten century to cement a finals spot for his side.
The Titans swapped places with Barrabool on the ladder to ease into third and with two games to go, are guaranteed to play finals cricket.
Chasing 163 for victory at Ceres Recreation Reserve on Saturday February 10, Mulgrew was again the rock of Armstrong Creek’s innings.
At 3/64, the game was close and Ben Fary joined Mulgrew at the crease to put on an unbeaten stand of 100 to win the game.
Fary made a patient 26 from 103 deliveries while Mulgrew batted through the innings to remain unbeaten on 102 from 193.
“I think I was pretty scratchy,” Mulgrew said.
“It was just about trying to stay in. I knew if I could kind of get through 30 or so overs that I could find some runs towards the back end and the over rate wasn’t really an issue, so it was just about staying in and just staying alive, really.”
Mulgrew said Fary’s knock was exactly what the team needed.
“He was perfect – he came in with exactly what the team needed from him,” he said.
“It was great to have him out there.”
James Fisher was again hard to get away for the Bulls, taking 2/23 from 17 overs.
Mulgrew has made 591 runs so far this season at an average of 73.88.
A top two finish isn’t out of the question for the Titans, but it appears unlikely.
“Just getting into finals is priority number one and then the rest can take care of itself,” Mulgrew said.
“Our main focus going into the game was to try and sew up that finals spot, we get in there and get to have a crack against the best teams in it.”
BARWON HEADS looks destined to earn a home final after defeating Jan Juc by five wickets. Chasing 166 for victory, Brent McMinn (50), Max Melzer (41) and Jason Mallett (30 not out) did enough despite superb bowling from Jordy Graham and Oscar Crocker, who each took two wickets while also keeping the run rate down.
OCEAN GROVE’s finals hopes are done after losing to Queenscliff. Daniel Stott (59) and Frank Mileto (55 not out) got the Coutas to 6/162 in pursuit of 112 before stumps were called early.
STEVE Nicholson took 4/22 from 16.3 overs to lead Anglesea to a 51-run win against Inverleigh. Lachie Platt made 49 for the Kookaburras, but a 53-run last-wicket stand on day one was all the difference for Anglesea.
