By Mark Heenan
A BPCA A grade semi-final re-match between crosstown rivals Collendina and Ocean Grove looms likely after the Cobras scored a resounding win over Portarlington on 24 February.
Collendina (46 points) consolidated second spot after its 156-run first innings victory over the Demons in Round 10, while ladder leader Anglesea (52 points), third-placed Ocean Grove (46 points) and Drysdale (42 points) round out the top four.
The BPCA A grade semi-finals begin on Saturday 17 March.
Portarlington were all out for 43 in their first innings though the Demons lost only eight wickets after two players did not bat.
It was the Demons lowest total with the bat this season.
Gun Cobra bowler Charlie Lamb snared 4/9 from 13 overs, while Jye Hearps (3/14) and Andy Higgins (1/15) both kept things tight for the opposition.
Lamb praised Hearps efforts bowling in the windy conditions at Portarlington.
“He (Hearps) bowled brilliantly into the wind,” Lamb told the Voice.
In its second dig Portarlington were 0/61 from 21 overs.
Day one saw Collendina compile 9/199 from 75 overs thanks largely to an inspired performance by the Cobras lower batting order.
Collendina opener Kade Norquay chimed in with 40 at the top of the order.
At one stage Collendina was staring down the barrel of a small total at 6/69.
Enter Cobra Matt Davies batting at number 8, he resurrected his side’s innings with an unbeaten 65, while team-mates Dean Britt (22) and Charlie Lamb (28) made handy contributions.
“Once we managed to get some runs down the order – Matty Davies was leading the way,” Lamb said.
“Matt Davies helped win us the game.”
Meantime Gun Portarlington all-rounder Paul ‘Poudge’ McGrath become the second ever BPCA player to take 600 A Grade wickets after he finished with 4/60 from 26 overs.
Leading BPCA wicket-taker former Queenscliff bowler Robert Warren is the only other player to take more than 600 wickets.
IN other news Collendina Cricket Club coach Corey Walter did not play against Portarlington.
Walter, the BPCA A Grade most valuable player in 2016/17, was given a red card and two-match ban following his on-field behaviour against Ocean Grove on 10 February after a tribunal hearing.
Walter will serve the second match of his two-game penalty in the Cobras final home and away two-day fixture against bottom-placed Little River at Collendina this Saturday.
Walter remains free to play in this year’s BPCA A Grade finals.
In B Grade the Cobras defeated Portarlington by 108 runs in their two-day clash at Collendina.
Collendina opener David Worn led the way with 85 in the club’s first day total of 5/243 from 75 overs.
In reply Portarlington were all out for 135 from 47.2 overs.
Cobra bowler Sam Beasley was the chief destroyer with 4/22 from 13 overs, while team-mate Craig Goodger took 3/27 from 14.2 overs.
Portarlington won against Collendina on first innings after its C Grade two-day clash at Portarlington.
Batting first the Cobras were rolled for only 67 from 41.1 overs.
In reply Portarlington declared at 3/78 from 9.3 overs and sent the Cobras back into bat.
In its second dig Collendina avoided an outright defeat though was all out for 148 from 64.2 overs.
In the D Grade one-day clash at the Bellarine Secondary College Ocean Grove campus Collendina defeated Little River in a thriller by seven runs.
Batting first home side Collendina were all out for 135 from 38.3 overs, while Little River in reply were dismissed for 128 from 36.5 overs.
