THE pressure is on as the Diamond Valley Cricket Association nears the finish line.
Mernda will need to take eight more wickets against Bundoora Park in defending 160 to stay ahead in fourth position as the race for the finals hots up, with Bundoora Park 2/30 at stumps.
It was an almighty struggle for the Demons’ middle order, who couldn’t capitalise on Gareth Sharp’s 47 or Stuart Wright’s 36.
However, Lachlan Taylor and Wright struck to take a wicket apiece to give the Demons hope towards the end of the day.
In Mash Shield, Laurimar has a golden opportunity to potentially take a step towards finals, needing a further 114 runs to defeat top team Rivergum.
The Power had the Burra in all-sorts for much of the day, with Patrick Richardson leading the way with 3/21 off 13 overs, while Bailey Lawrenson took 3/30 off 17 overs as they helped bowl Rivergum out for 139.
Laurimar will be relying on last-start centurion Noah Key (12) and Rian Boddy (0) as it starts day two 3/27.
South Morang will need a further 108 runs to defeat Panton Hill, but with only six wickets in hand after a chaotic day.
With Panton Hill batting first, it was Benjamin Zychla who helped get the Redbacks all out for 141, taking 5/18 off 10 overs, while Theiveekan Theivanesan took 3/27 off 15.1 overs.
The Lions didn’t fare much better, and will start day two 4/34, with Seyon Uruththiran on five and Terry Liddicutt on four.
Whittlesea’s first XI requires exactly 200 runs to defeat Eltham in F1 grade.
The Eagles looked on top when they had Eltham 4/48, but the Panthers’ middle order performed strongly to sit 5/194.
However, a late day collapse saw the Eagles take 4/4 to get back into the game.
Mernda’s second XI has a golden opportunity to take another win, requiring 159 against Riverside in B grade.
Geordi Summers and Andy Evans put in an incredible level of effort to bowl 30 and 31 overs respectively, with Summers taking 4/54 and Evans 3/56.
South Morang will be hoping to defend 203 against Lower Plenty in C grade.
Paul Martin gave the Lions a good start by scoring 43, while Praneet Londhe ensured the Lions would make above 200 by adding 45.
Lower Plenty are 2/56, with Ricky Lee taking both wickets.
Laurimar’s D grade team requires plenty of work, needing 331 to beat Rosebank.
The Power was in a good position when Rosebank were 6/120, but big lower-order runs ensured the Eagles would be on top at the end of the day.
Jayden Clifford took 3/77 off 21 overs, while Cooper Lewin (2/43) and Thomas McCumber (2/78) also took multiple wickets.
Mernda look in complete control against Banyule in E grade, needing 40 more runs with 10 wickets in hand.
David Taylor and Kyle Reece took three wickets apiece, while Charlie Andrews chipped in with two more to help roll Banyule for 111.
Darren Mercuri (38) and Rob Virtue (26) continue to bat strongly to help Mernda negotiate the final 19 overs of the day to sit 0/71 at stumps.
South Morang need a further 198 runs to defeat Thomastown United.
After a strong start for United, Sarvesh Soni and Darcy McLean did well to slow down the batting, with Soni taking 5/38 and McLean 4/28 as Thomastown United made 210.
Atinder Singh scored 12 off the only over for the Lions as they look to attack day two.
Laurimar took on Dennis in F1 grade, with Dennis sitting on 4/170 off 44 overs.
Darren Jenkins, Ben Demicoli, Daniel Wigney and Harrison Rodda all took one wicket apiece.
In F2 grade, Mernda are just 27 runs from first-innings points with eight wickets in hand.
The Demons were well-led by Stephen Otter, who ensured they would be on top by taking 5/30 off 12 overs, while Jack Sheahan took 2/18 to bowl Banyule for 103.
Saurin Sandeep Sharma scored 28 and Chase Kinash 18 as the Demons finished the day on 2/77.
South Morang need 335 to beat Montmorency.
The Magpies’ top order was too strong throughout the day, with the top order setting the tone.
Jaskaran Singh never gave up, taking 4/64 off 15 overs.
In G1 West, Laurimar took a 34-run win over Mernda.
The Power batted first, with Byron Aldenhoven scoring an unbeaten 50, while Daniel Edwards added 28 as they scored 7/145.
Josh Haddick and Seth Broughton took three wickets apiece for the Demons.
The Power’s bowling was too tight for the Demons to handle, and they could only manage 6/111 in response, with Ranil Fernandopulle scoring 30 and Anthony Meek 29.
Aldenhoven’s all-round game was completed with a haul of 2/14, while Corey Peters took 2/12.
In G2 grade, however, Laurimar struggled, losing by 167 runs to Research Eltham Collegians.
Big middle-order runs for Research Eltham saw it make 7/199. Matthew Antonelli took 3/27 for the Power, while Daniel Goss took 2/36.
Laurimar’s batting order could not do anything about the bowling power of Research Eltham, with no batter making double figures in being dismissed for 32.
South Morang was also bested, losing by five wickets to Epping.
The Lions were well-served by Bimal KC, making 40 as the Lions made 108.
Despite Raj Koppula’s 2/20, Epping were far too good, making 5/109 off 23.1 overs to win comfortably.
Whittlesea took a solid five-wicket win over Bundoora in G3 grade.
Jack Jerabek and Nuwan Madhusanka Vidana Kankanamge took two wickets apiece to keep the Bulls in check, eventually scoring 6/143.
But a consistent top order effort for Whittlesea, led by Lochaden Graham with 33 and Jack Jerabek with 22, helped the Eagles win with four overs to spare, making 5/145.
Mernda were comfortable six-wicket winners over Rivergum.
Rivergum started strongly to sit 2/96 at one stage, but Mernda’s bowling lineup helped keep the Burra in check, led by Tanay Limbachiya’s 2/5 off four overs.
Limbachiya completed a great all-round game by scoring 40 in helping the Demons score 4/122 off 27 overs.
South Morang could not stop Eltham in a 67-run loss.
Eltham’s top order performed strongly, but Natasha Kiper took 2/45 to at least keep the Lions in it.
With the bat, Troy Slater scored 37 and Jaskirat Singh 21, but the Lions were bowled out for 124.
On Sunday, the North Metro Cricket Association women’s competitions ended the home and away season.
South Morang Blue booked its spot in the division one finals in style, recording a nine-wicket win over Heidelberg.
Jessica Parker took 4/8 off her six overs, while Natasha Kiper and Kristy Carbis also took two wickets to help bowl Heidelberg out for 73.
Emma Leatham’s 35 and Louise Moll’s 30 then got the Lions home off 17.4 overs.
Laurimar Black missed out on a top two finish in division two but will still play finals after losing to Greensborough by 40 runs.
Bowling first, Laurimar had to chase 174 runs, with Tara Chetcuti the best of the bowlers in taking 2/9 off six overs.
The Power couldn’t quite get on top when it came to their batting innings, with Kyra Rule and Kristen Keena both top scoring with 16 runs apiece. Laurimar finished on 9/133.
Laurimar Teal impressed in division four in a winner-takes-all clash to book its spot in finals over East Coburg/Haig Fawkner.
The combined team batted first, but two wickets to Ann O’Gorman and Danielle Toull gave the Power a chance as East Coburg/Haig Fawkner made 6/168 off its 30 overs.
Toull, combined with Toni Rule, batted strongly for the Power, with Toull retired not out on 52 and Toni also retired on 24.
Alana Albero helped get the Power home with her 26 as they made 4/169 with an over to spare.
South Morang Maroon ended a tough campaign with a 135-run loss to the Baseballers.
Bowling first, Kylie Kreuzer-Pierce took 2/48 to lead the way for the Lions as the Baseballers scored 5/214.
The Lions could not get it going in response, with Sandy Iyer top-scoring with 20 as they were bowled out for 79.
