THE Hamilton and District Cricket Association BC grade has come down to the final round of the home and away season with only two teams assured of a place in the finals.
This grade is divided into B and C grades for the finals, with Tahara already booking its spot in the B grade grand final and College and St Andrew’s are set to play in the semi-final for the right to challenge the Bluecaps, while in C grade Grampians and Hamilton have secured the top two spots already, as they await the opponents to be decided.
Macarthur, Casterton District, and Hamilton North are separated by a single point on the ladder, and no doubt percentage will be used to find the finalists.
St Andrew’s d College
THESE two teams will play each other three Saturdays in a row, due to a quirk in the draw, and St Andrew’s struck the first blow with a great victory against College at PP 1 on Saturday.
The Drews won the toss and sent College into bat, and the bowlers were on top early, as the scoreboard showed the visitors to be 4-25 after the top order collapsed.
Sam Tonissen (37) continued his recent good form with the bat, while Will Bourke (24) and Cameron Cutler (22) offered good support in helping drag the final tally to 8-146.
When St Andrew’s came to bat, the wickets fell at an alarming rate, as six batsmen failed to score and three registered golden ducks as the scoreboard showed the Drews at 4-0.
It was Fraser Hill (69-not-out) and Bailey Walsh (40) who came together with the scoreboard showing a depressing 8-63, to rescue the innings, combining for a 64-run ninth-wicket partnership that dragged the team to within sight of victory.
From there, Hill finished the job to see the Drews claim an unlikely victory despite Cameron Cutler grabbing 4-19 for the Eagles.
Tarrington d Branxholme
TARRINGTON travelled to Branxholme Recreation Reserve knowing that neither team could force a way into the C grade finals, but bragging rights were there for the taking.
Branxholme batted first after winning the toss, and Andrew McFarlane (44) and Cody Griffiths (32) added 55 for the first wicket before McFarlane was on his way.
The Bulls finished with 8-154 from its allotted overs, as Elijah Pickett (3-28) took the bowling honours for the Tigers.
After the innings break, the visitors lost both opening batsmen for ducks and the first five wickets for only 63, before Andy O’Connor (93-not-out) continued his stunning late season form, as he and David Handreck (35) dragged the Tigers back into the contest and then to victory with 6-155.
The Tigers missed a bonus point by a single ball, but victory still tasted sweet.
Casterton District d Byaduk
CASTERTON District made the road trip to Christie Oval in Byaduk and thrashed the home side by 10 wickets in a one-sided clash.
The visitors won the toss and sent the Ducks into bat and the wickets tumbled, as Byaduk failed to take advantage of the conditions.
Only Lachie Holcombe (21), Gordon last (16), and Mitchell Donoghue (17) posted double figures as the final score finished on 78.
The Maroons made light work of the chase with Justin Carlin (53-not-out) and Kane Forbes (23-not-out) reaching the target inside the 11th over without loss of a wicket.
Grampians d St Andrew’s Saints
GRAMPIANS ensured it would finish atop the C grade ladder with an emphatic victory against St Andrew’s Saints at Dunkeld Turf on Saturday.
Levi Templeton led the way for the Pumas with an outstanding knock of 97-not-out that anchored the innings, as Greg Millard (45) and Eddie McShane (36) helped Templeton boost the final tally to 3-223.
When the Saints came to reply after the break, they had only Nathan Flack (31) and Geoff Barker (38-not-out) offer any real resistance, as the side finished 9-115 with Alexander Prentice (4-5) and Templeton (3-9) destroying the Saints’ batting order.
Hamilton d Hamilton North
HAMILTON gained a bonus point by chasing down the Hamilton North total inside 28 overs at Mitchell Park on Saturday.
Hamilton won the toss and sent Hamilton North into bat, as Darren Groves (95) continued his love affair with the venue, guiding the Hammers to 9-177.
The Blues were in no mood to drag the game out, as Isaac Shaw (50), Robbie Cook (45), and Tyler Ellis (55-not-out) took to the Hamilton North bowers to record the bonus point and claim second place on the C grade ladder.
Tahara d Macarthur
Having made the road trip to Macarthur Recreation Reserve, Tahara came home with the points safely in hand after defeating Macarthur by five wickets in a low-scoring game.
The Demons were asked to bat first after losing the toss and against a B grade standard bowling attack, the home side collapsed to be all out for only 70, as Luke Barnes (4-26) did the damage for Tahara.
When the Bluecaps came to reply, it was assumed that the game would be over quickly, but the Demons refused to give up, as the side grabbed five wickets before the winning runs were scored, with Matt Timms adding three wickets to his season tally.
