Ocean Grove needs 229 runs for victory against arch rivals Barwon Heads on the final day of play for 2024 this Saturday.
At RT Fuller oval, the home side won the toss and batted first and got off to a terrific start with brothers Max and Harry Melzer playing well.
The pair put on 112 with Harry Melzer falling to spinner Alex Mann for 39.
The Heads were cruising until the introduction of spin from both ends.
Mann and Dylan Thorley bowled unchanged for a combined 58 overs to limit the damage.
Max Melzer raced to a run a ball 50, but the two spinners put the brakes on. However, Melzer would craft out a magnificent unbeaten 110 from 211 deliveries in a superb show of concentration and stroke play. After having gone close several times, it was Melzer’s first ton for the Seagulls.
“It was a super innings,” Barwon Heads captain-coach Dan Donaldson said.
“He rode the ebbs and flows of a seesawing innings and showed a lot of composure and experience in class to bat the whole day. He’s had a couple of scores, he had one early this season and one last season in the semi-final, so to hit a ton is a wonderful achievement, great reward. He’s had such a good season and he’s really leading from the front.”
Jacko Mallett (26) and young gun Angus Ford (24) also contributed.
For Grove it was all about their spinners giving it a shot at victory next week.
Mann sent down 30 overs of leg-spin to take 3/65 while Thorley’s off-spinners netted him 1/74 from 28 overs.
“Fletcher Long captained very well,” Donaldson said.
“I was pretty confident he would change things up at some point, I’m sure that wasn’t part of his game plan, but he sort of adjusted and Mann in particular bowled really well, spun the ball well and with great control.”
In B1 Grade, Ocean Grove made 9/186 from 75 overs against Barwon Heads.
Ben Hanson top scored with 35 and Lachlan McKenzie made 31 while Taj Don returned to the bowling crease after injury and took 4/49 from 17 overs for the Seagulls while Sam O’Brien captured 3/29 from 13.
Greg Scarpa made 57 out of Ocean Grove’s score of 108 all out against Collendina in C1 Grade. In reply Wallington is 0/5.
Newcomb defeated Ocean Grove in a high-scoring D Grade game.
Newcomb made 8/265 with Oliver Corby and Zack Carmody each taking three wickets.
In reply, Grove made 8/230 with Shannon LeBel making a very nice 94 while Carmody capped off a good game with 35.
