ONLY one day remains for Macarthur and Casterton District to secure a place in the Hamilton and District Cricket Association A grade finals today.

Macarthur sits in fourth with Casterton District one rung below on the ladder.

Grampians v Macarthur

LAST Saturday we reported the Demons hadn’t defeated Grampians at Dunkeld Turf since 2016-17 season in a two-day match, but now that the game has been reduced to a one-day game that record improves drastically to the final round of last summer when Macarthur was victorious by 42 runs.

Of course the team that day was vastly different and it went on to reach the grand final, with only seven players returning to the venue this season for Macarthur.

The Demons have done well to remain a force within the competition after losing so many key players in the winter and will need the form of Michael Brilley to continue with both bat and ball.

He is the only player in the A grade competition to grab two five-wicket hauls this summer and is the most economical bowler in the grade, conceding only 2.09 runs each over.

Kyle Smitten is in form with the bat after making 90 in his last hit, while the entire top order all made great use of the valuable time in the middle against Casterton District two weeks ago.

Grampians will look to its opening batting pair of Joe Sutherland and Will Collins to continue their great form together in this match after they posted 165 last round.

The Pumas’ bowling unit is definitely in form, routing St Andrew’s for 136 inside 60 overs on the same ground last round and the new ball pairing of Stefan Burnell and Ryan Burgess will be seeking early success.

Given leg-spinner Harrison Wood is leading the wickets list and Josh Gordon grabbed the honours with his off spin against the Drews, the Grampians bowers lay claim to being the best unit in the competition.

Casterton District v Hamilton

ISLAND Park’s turf wicket holds the fortunes of the Casterton District team within the cracks of its surface as the home side hosts Hamilton today.

While each team is currently in the bottom half of the premiership ladder, victory holds significance as Casterton District seeks that finals place and Hamilton seeks to climb off the bottom of the ladder and avoid the wooden spoon.

Casterton District needs to wipe away the failure of its last match when it lost to Macarthur by 145 runs, as Ben Holmes (50), Carey Megaw (36) and Alister Bright (31-not-out) batted well, but six of the top nine in the order made starts but failed to go on and make the big score needed.

Kaden Humphries will also want to forget that match after he ‘raised the bat’ for his bowling, but that was for conceding 101 from his overs.

Too many matches this summer have seen the Blues fail to fulfil the undoubted talent within the ranks, and today is the last opportunity for the side to showcase that combined talent.

With four representatives in the Melbourne Country Week squad that had a successful carnival only two weeks ago, Hamilton has the players in form who can win a match on their own.

Simon Sharrock smacked the first ton at Country Week for eight years, Hamish Cook proved he is a talent with both bat and ball, Tobi Cook was skipper and Caleb Millard was a revelation with the new ball.

With Brenton Callaby, Anthony Read, Robbie Cook and Cameron Templeton also showing form recently, the Blues have their best chance to climb off the bottom rung of the ladder.

St Andrews v Pigeon Ponds

PIGEON Ponds travels to Clem Young Oval today seeking to get back into the groove after having round 13 off with a bye.

The visitors face a St Andrew’s team that was totally outplayed for 75 per cent of the game against Grampians last round, and it was only the last two hours of the match when the Drews struck back with the ball in hand to claim 9-112.

Pigeon Ponds spent its bye in the indoor training facility at Monivae College honing the skills that hopefully will carry the side to its first Dundas Cup at the end of March.

Simon Close is again atop the runs list for the competition and must be well in contention for back-to-back Christie Medals, as the best player in the competition.

Anthony Close grabbed six wickets in his last outing, while Michael Close registered his maiden A grade century only two games ago.

Along with the Close brothers, Jack Beaton has enjoyed his best summer with the new ball since the Pigeons joined the HDCA, and he has registered his two career highest scores with the bat too.

There appears to be too many players in the Ponds line up who are in form compared to the home side, but never write off a St Andrew’s team - especially at home.