Gripping final week of WDCA sees ladder turned upside down

Division 1:
Ellinbank 173 def by Hallora 6/179

Heavily sweating on the Neerim result, Ellinbank and Hallora met in a match that was underlined with as many calculations as you can get in cricket. 

Knowing they needed to chase Ellinbank’s total of 173 whilst keeping several wickets in the shed, Hallora slipped to 2-25 as Chris Perry loomed dangerously for the Eagles. Grant and Fraser Duncan looked to rebuild for the Kangas, as the brothers dealt mainly in boundaries and dot balls during an incredibly tense and tricky pursuit. 

The pair gained speed as the partnership began to blossom, with Ellinbank reaching panic mode when Hallora reached tea with eight wickets in the shed and, with calculators abound, the game became more and more tense as the day wore on. 

Both the batsmen passed 50 soon after enjoying a snack, before Fraser (55) was finally out to Perry as Ellinbank looked to swoop. Aidan Phillips (0) followed Duncan back to the pavilion next ball, as Perry’s (4-43) end of year magic began to de-rail the Hallora side. 

With Neerim’s outright win looking likely and the home side’s math-wiz in Grant Duncan still batting, it began to become more about survival than winning. Natsai M’Shangwe (19) hit an entertaining cameo to put the result beyond doubt, with Duncan and Sam Whibley the pair to see their side over the line, but there was cricket still left to be played. 

With the overs dwindling, Whibley was removed by Curtis Howell (2-23) to set up an intriguing scenario. Much like batting for a draw, Hallora shut up shop as Ellinbank desperately searched for another couple of wickets. In the end, Duncan held on brilliantly, batting for five and a half hours for his 74 not out as his beloved Hallora team declared to ensure they would make it to the finals, dooming Ellinbank by the barest of margins. 

Neerim District 107 & 77 def Warragul 58 & 112

A wild regular season of WDCA cricket came to an end on the weekend and perhaps the most exciting last-round climax possible was the only fitting way to conclude it as Neerim began their day with the most power in their hands to shape the final four. 

An outright victory was the only thing on their minds. Defending 107 and with Warragul 9-55, the Stags needed to collect the six points first and did so quickly, as Dane Fawcett (2-15) removed Cam Ludowyke to grab the first innings win. 

Next, the Stags needed to compile a substantial lead, and fast. Unfortunately for them, the new Neerim deck was playing tricks and runs proved to be hard to come by. Only Nathan Bayne (26) was able to add anything of note for the home side, as Ludowyke (4-14) and Charlie Wans (3-22) kept the possibility of a rare reverse outright on the cards as tea approached with Neerim collapsing in a heap. 

The Stags were dismissed for just 77 in just 25 overs, giving them a 125-run lead, whilst keeping the carrot there for Warragul to claim a consolation prize. 

The Gulls started poorly in their pursuit, as Neerim pressed home their advantage. Paddy Mulqueen (2), Matt Wakefield (0) and Josh Wright (3) all struggled on the juicy deck, as Warragul fell to 4-41.

A fighting partnership from Ludowyke (37) and Matt Bow (26) managed to stave off the pressure from the likes of Dane Fawcett (2-27) who was bowling with his tail up, as the chance at 10 points and a finals berth began to slip away from the Stags. 

However, in a game with dozens of twists and turns, the final proved to be the most critical. Toby Bayne bowled perhaps the most important spell in his Neerim career, as the wheel turned and panic ensued for Warragul. A collapse of 6-20, punctuated by a five-wicket haul to Bayne, proved to be their downfall as Neerim punched their ticket to cricket in March with a wild outright win at home.

Drouin 208 def Buln Buln 173

Drouin has managed to hold on to secure second spot on the ladder, downing a resilient Buln side. With the winner securing a spot in the four and the loser resigned to a bitterly disappointing end, the stage was set for a tense day as Buln resumed needing 209 for victory. 

For the most part, however, it was Drouin who controlled the majority of the day, using their momentum from last week to spur them on, Simon Gardiner (2-46) had the ball talking early, as the Lyrebirds were reduced to 4-50. 

Brent Eastwell was the only Buln batsmen who looked comfortable, as the classy right-hander looked to see his side back into the contest but found little help from the remainder of the middle order, as the likes of Matt Allen (4) and Andrew Burdett (2) were dismissed to leave Buln seemingly finished at 6-75. 

Brad Monson, fresh off a match winning T20 performance, managed to carry this form into a solid partnership with Eastwell, but his dismissal by the brilliant Troy Lehman for 21 set the Drouin coach alight.

With Eastwell ramping up the pressure with the bat, hitting boundaries at will as he negotiated the strike with the tail, Lehman’s pace rose with it. 

The ball was talking and so was Lehman, as he took the remaining wickets to leave Buln short of the target. Despite a valiant 79 not out from Eastwell, it wasn’t to be, as the home side were all out for 173 and perhaps will now rue several missed chances last week. 

Yarragon 76 & 133 def by Western Park 161 & 0/49

Western Park has secured the minor premiership for the third year in a row, claiming an outright victory over Yarragon on the final ball of the day.

Resuming on 9-100, Jason Croft (36) and Tyler McDonald (37*) showed why they are better then what their batting position indicates, as they added a monster tenth-wicket partnership to suck the life out of the Panthers. 
The Warriors were eventually dismissed for 161, with the final partnership amounting to 88 as the home side enjoyed an 84-run lead. 

In reply, Adam Mazza (26) and Laytten Smith (28) provided a fast start for Yarragon, who required an unlikely reverse outright to have a chance to play finals. Joel Batson (2-28) took a couple of early wickets, before Gamini Kumara (39) seemingly took an outright victory out of the equation, as Yarragon reached 2-92. 

Whilst Sam Batson has usually been the one to create middle-order collapses for the Warriors, the lack of pressure meant a couple of different names could take the reins, namely Jack Armour (3-7) who has shown that he has been criminally under-bowled, whilst Leigh Diston (3-17) hit form before finals as Yarragon were bundled out for 133. 

Requiring 49 off four overs to claim all 10 points, it was left up to Sanjaya Gangodawila (33*) to get the job done for the Parkers, as they scampered through for a bye off the final ball to secure the maximum result.