St Leonards took a major step forward in avoiding relegation from the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association’s A1 Grade competition on Saturday.
Going into the game on nine points and on the bottom of the ladder, the Saints’ hopes of avoiding the drop would have been almost dashed if it lost to seventh placed Colledina (12 points).
St Leonards won the toss and sent the Cobras in at home.
Collendina couldn’t get a partnership going and it was left to captain Nathan Walter to steer the innings.
Walter made a crisp 49 from just 47 deliveries but none of his teammates could reach double figures.
Cam Egan was introduced into the attack later than usual and the tactic paid dividends with the left-arm seamer grabbing 4-7 in helping to rout Collendina 96.
Taylor Bonner took three wickets and Chris Hockey two while Daniel Harrison was miserly with 0-16 from eight.
Neither side has been able to consistently score runs this season, so Collendina would have still fancied its chances, even with a double-digit score to defend.
They needed early wickets and the scalp of Troy Griffin in particular. But it wasn’t to be as Griffin made a typically hard-hitting 51 from just 44 balls and opening partner Kale Hoggins played with maturity to remain unbeaten on 32 from 74.
The Saints passed the total with the loss of one wicket in the 21st over.
The win elevated St Leonards into seventh spot, while Collendina is now at the bottom of the ladder in the relegation zone.
With three games to go, St Leonards faces a tough run home with Jan Juc (second), Inverleigh (fifth) and Anglesea (first) to come.
Collendina meets Ocean Grove (fourth), Queenscliff (third) and Barrabool (sixth).
Ocean Grove’s hopes for a top two finish are dashed after a defeat against Jan Juc, which sewed up a home semi-final.
Grove is a game and percentage ahead of Inverleigh in fourth spot and can book a finals spot if it defeats Collendina this week and Inverleigh loses to the undefeated Anglesea.
Grove batted first and found the Sharks’ attack difficult to score from, particularly gun quick Nicky Smith, who took 2-16 from eight overs.
Opener Shaun Fankhauser played well with 49 from 85 balls, but Jordy Graham introduced himself in the middle stages and grabbed three wickets to limit the total to 7-133 from 40 overs.
Ben Grinter and Iva Priest got the Sharks off to another good start before Rob Rutley trapped Priest in front for a well-made 32 off 35 balls.
Rutley took 3-16 from eight immaculate overs, but Grinter batted through the innings for an unbeaten 50 off 105 to get Jan Juc home with five wickets and four overs to spare.
Queenscliff ensured itself a finals spot with a win against a gallant Inverleigh.
Queenscliff was sent in and got off to a bright start with Frank Mileto (35 off 56) and Lachie Kidd (49 off 55) putting on 68.
Veteran Toby Smith played in the middle order for 34 and the Coutas were able to score a competitive 8-176. Nick Platt was the Kookaburras’ best bowler with 3-26.
Lachlan Platt (32 off 25) gave the Inverleigh run chase a kick start while Oliver Haberfield (40 off 82) played a steadying role before being run out.
Nathan Pisani tried hard to lift the middle of the innings with 34 off 39 deliveries, but time ran out and the Kookas fell 11 runs short.
Anglesea faced an awkward run chase for the second week in a row and emerged triumphant for the second week in a row.
Barrabool batted first with Kane Pickering anchoring the innings with 47 off 102 balls and Brydon Barnett playing his role with 36 off 56.
Dylan Taylor continued his good form with the ball, taking 3-23 while fellow speedsters Dale Kerr and Darcy Elliott each grabbed two wickets.
Barrabool needed to get Ned Cooper out early if it was any chance.
But the gun left-hander took his season’s run tally to 499 at an average of 83.17 by batting through the innings for a superb 87 not out off 100 balls. Opening partner Tyron Norman made 28 in the stand of 81.
Anglesea lost prolific run scorer Brett Harding for a first-ball duck, but the Seas’ got home with seven wickets and 14 deliveries up their sleeve.
