Ocean Grove faces a must-win game against Armstrong Creek to keep its BPCA A1 Grade season alive.
The Grubbers are nine points adrift of the Titans and a loss in round 11 would pretty much confine them to the bottom half of the ladder.
In round 10, persistent drizzle delayed the start of Grove’s game against Barrabool.
When play eventually got underway, a 20/20 game ensued.
Barrabool batted first and made 8/125 with leg-spinner Alex Mann taking 5/32 while Bailey LeMaistre, Dylan Thorley and Mick Thornton all conceded less than 20 runs from their allotted four overs.
Shaun Fankhauser (21 off 14 deliveries) started the run chase off well, but quick wickets had Ocean Grove in trouble at 5/33.
Thornton (46 not out off 43) and Suman Shrestha (32 not out off 30) tried desperately to get the Grubbers over the line, but they fell short at 5/111.
In B1 Grade, Ocean Grove inflicted top side Barrabool’s first loss of the season.
The Grubbers are second on the ladder, equal on point with Armstrong Creek.
Luke Morrison (35) and Adam Arnold (33) made handy contributions in Grove’s score of 6/161.
In reply, the Bulls fell for 126 with leggie Robbie Rutley snaring three late wickets to compliment the incredible work of fellow spinner Tom Kent, who took 1/7 from eight immaculate overs.
Oliver Corby fell two runs short of a deserved century in C Grade.
Corby batted beautifully to make 98 while Ben Hanson made 66 in Ocean Grove’s score of 7/245 against Barrabool
The Bulls batted well, but fell well short thanks to consistent seamer Billy Foord-Engelsman who hit a nice line and length, conceding just 19 from eight overs.
Anglesea stalwart Graeme Dodkins made 72 not out in his 100th game while Michael Harper smacked an impressive 106 retired in D Grade.
Harper backed it up with the ball, taking 2/8 from eight overs as Ocean Grove fell well short despite a good bowling spell from Louis Belsar-LeBel (2/33 from eight) and a nice 20 from Bruno Borci.
