CRICKETERS battled the heavens as they sought victory across the weekend.
Gisborne District Cricket Association (GDCA)
Romsey still needs to secure a McIntyre Cup Firsts finals berth after falling to Sunbury United by 42 runs, bowled out for 319 chasing 361, despite the best efforts of Chris Burkett, who scored 102 in a losing cause.
Broadford were outclassed by Rupertswood, bowled out for 90, before finishing at 2/59 in their second dig.
Romsey’s McIntyre Cup Seconds game was declared a draw, with Sunbury United 3/213 in response to Romsey’s 278, while Broadford took a 35-run victory, 9/228 to 193, with Nathan Woods taking 2/5, keeping Rupertswood at bay, opening the bowling.
Johnstone Shield Firsts saw a swing in the finals race, with Kilmore almost securing an outright victory over Eynesbury.
The Blues fell just three wickets short of achieving the feat, bowling Eynesbury out for 78, before Callum Partridge scored an unbeaten 55 off just 43 deliveries to help Kilmore declare at 3/130 in their second innings with a 204-run lead.
Despite Josh Squire’s 3/20, and Steven Burns’ 2/2, Eynesbury held on, 7/65 at the close of play.
However, Kilmore will have Wallan to thank for jumping into the top four, with the Magpies chasing down 263 to defeat Aintree, maintaining top spot.
Nathan Fowler’s 70 and Ryan Cumberland’s 60 were critical as the Magpies finished on 7/266.
Eastern Hill remains in second spot, taking first innings’ points against Diggers Rest.
An attempt at an outright victory was made after declaring at 8/163, but the Eagles fell six wickets short, with Diggers 4/29 in their second innings at the close of play.
In an even team effort for Eastern Hill with the bat, Michael Brown scored 36, Matthew Collard 34, and Riley Graham 30.
In the Johnstone Shield Seconds, Kilmore lost by 59 runs against Eynesbury, while Wallan lost by 194 runs to Aintree. Eastern Hill were defeated by Diggers Rest by 96 runs.
In a thrilling Jensen Shield Firsts game, Wallan withstood everything that was thrown their way by Sunbury United to keep their finals chances alive, winning by three runs.
Jason Dodd anchored the top of the order by scoring 43, while Robbie Fowler and Harkanwar Singh Sandhu cashed in at the end of the innings with 43 and 34 respectively.
Despite Sunbury United pushing to score victory, they fell just short of their target of 168, with Jasper George taking 3/29 in victory for the Magpies.
Elsewhere, Lancefield took a comfortable six-wicket win over Melton South. Jack Crosland’s 51 guided the Tigers home.
Lancefield’s Jensen Shield Seconds team were also successful in taking a 63-run win over Blackwood, while Romsey fell 44 runs short of chasing down Rupertswood.
Kilmore were unable to win in the Jensen Shield Thirds, losing to Melton Centrals by 121 runs. Brent Proctor top-scored for Kilmore with 38, while also taking 3/57 with the ball.
In the Kookaburra Women’s League on Sunday, Kilmore had a tough afternoon against Bacchus Marsh as the Bulls made 250.
Taylah Logie played a lone hand at the top of the order, scoring an unbeaten 82, but it was not to be for Kilmore as they were bowled out for 139 in response.
It was Nat Jeffrey’s day at Lancefield in a battle between Yellow and Black, which eventually saw Lancefield Black win by 130 runs.
Jeffrey scored an unbeaten 102 as Black scored 185, before taking 3/4 with the ball as Yellow were bowled out for 55.
Seymour District Cricket Association (SDCA)
Tallarook A Grade tightened their grip on top spot with a 10-wicket win over Pyalong, scoring 137 without loss off just 21.3 overs to comfortably chase down Pyalong’s 134.
Leigh Irving continues to sparkle, scoring an unbeaten 79, while Joshua Rudge scored an unbeaten 52. Blake Munari-O’Dwyer spearheaded Tallarook’s bowling with 4/24.
Seymour’s A Grade again managed to defend a low total, scoring 111 to defeat Puckapunyal by 32 runs, and moved to second on the ladder.
