IT’S March madness in the Gisborne District Cricket Association, with the first of the senior premierships ready to be handed out this weekend, while the top grades face major ramifications out of its match-ups this week.
McIntyre Cup
Romsey is locked into finals courtesy of a comfortable 115-run victory over Macedon.
Starting day two needing to defend 262, Macedon looked in okay shape at 3/80, but Romsey ensured the day would belong to it by taking 5/13 to essentially end the day, with Corey Day in inspired form taking three wickets.
Macedon would be bowled out for 147, with Day finishing with figures of 3/18, while Chris Burkett chipped in with 2/26 and Adam Frost 2/17.
Romsey batted again, but were bowled out for 80 before play was called.
Wallan’s fate will come down to a last-round matchup with Broadford, missing out on the opportunity to secure its McIntyre Cup status for a second season with a 131-run loss to Rupertswood.
Zac Bell batted patiently for 29, while Archie Moore scored 31, but the Magpies couldn’t resist Rupertswood’s pressure, eventually bowled out for 120.
Rupertswood batted again and made 3/36 before play finished for the day.
Broadford, for its part, couldn’t hold out Gisborne, losing by four wickets.
It appeared Broadford would have its tails up for long stages of the afternoon when it had Gisborne 5/61 and threatening a major upset, with Riley Nolan inspired in taking 4/68, but it could not stop Riley Vernon from scoring a century and ensuring Gisborne still had a shot of taking the minor premiership, eventually finishing on 8/214.
Johnstone Shield
Kilmore took a crucial win in the context of its season over second-placed Diggers Rest Bulla Village, meaning the Blues will have a win-and-you’re-in game against Sunbury Kangaroos to make the finals.
After Dale Tassone’s heroics last week with his 102, it was the bowlers’ turn to help Kilmore, with Jacob Walton striking with 4/8 off 13 overs, which also included eight maidens in a stunning spell, while Stuart Partridge took 3/30 and Josh Squire 2/28 as Diggers Rest was bowled out for 94, losing by 129 runs.
Following on, Diggers made 4/119 before play finished.
Lancefield may not play finals, but it had a positive result to ensure it will all-but avoid the wooden spoon in its first year in Johnstone Shield with a 22-run win over Eynesbury.
Chasing 116, Lachlan Mitchell was patient with 27, before Alan Sinclair’s 32 helped get the Tigers home.
Eastern Hill was comfortable in its 196-run win over East Sunbury.
Benjamin Bryant added to his big day one with the ball on day two, taking 4/28 in the first innings to help bowl East Sunbury out for 116, before taking a further two wickets as the Eagles’ campaign to try take an outright win fell five wickets short, with East Sunbury finishing on 5/75.
Women’s
Wallan pinched the A grade minor premiership on the final day as results went with the Magpies.
Most impressive was its three-wicket win over Gisborne, a performance which was borne through tight bowling and good batting from Charli Laity, who scored an unbeaten 50, with Megan Farrell providing good support with 36, with Wallan’s 7/124 enough in chasing down Gisborne’s 5/123.
Terrie Haydon led the way with the ball, taking 2/19.
Wallan’s win was coupled with Bacchus Marsh’s loss to Macedon, ensuring the Magpies scored home ground advantage across its finals campaign.
In B grade, Lancefield Yellow took a seven-wicket win over Melton Centrals as it showed it was hot favourite for the premiership.
Melton Centrals made 4/95, but Emily Consiglio’s run-a-ball 46 helped the Tigers chase down the target with one ball to spare, scoring 3/99.
Broadford was dominant in its 77-run win over East Sunbury, showing it is a chance of crashing the top two’s finals party.
Brooke Jeffery and Lana Wood had a dominant top-order partnership, putting on 93 for the first wicket, with Jeffery scoring 50 and Wood 37, while Melodie Bassett added 29 as Broadford scored 3/165.
East Sunbury was never in the game, scoring 3/88 off its 20 overs.
Lower Grades
Only two games were completed in McIntyre Cup seconds, with Romsey and Broadford’s games abandoned.
Wallan played Rupertswood, but fell just three wickets short.
The Magpies looked in a good spot with Rupertswood 7/166 chasing 213, but the tail wagged to deny them – a 50-run partnership allowing Rupertswood to score 7/216.
Ben Funnell took 2/38 to lead the way, while Beau Fowler took 2/46.
Eastern Hill survived East Sunbury’s pressure to win by three wickets.
The Eagles looked in desperate trouble at 6/48, but Josh Speechley’s calm 33 helped get them past the Thunder’s 80, before finishing on 9/130.
Lancefield was no match for Eynesbury, losing by 158 runs.
Dylan Mallia-Hogan was the only resistance for the Tigers, top-scoring with 36 and adding 21 in the second innings, with the Tigers bowled out for 84, before adding 2/49 in the second dig.
Kilmore lost by seven wickets to Diggers Rest Bulla Village.
The Blues couldn’t prevent Diggers’ top-order from firing, despite Rowan Pollock (2/16) and Hayden Proctor (2/27) bowling well, with Diggers scoring 4/129 and chasing down Kilmore’s 116 before play was called.
Finals started for Jensen Shield and Club Grade.
In Jensen Shield, Romsey’s season is over after losing to Rupertswood by 84 runs.
Rupertswood performed strongly in scoring 264, despite Michael Palmer’s 4/31 and Sean Day’s 2/40, and the men in red did not have enough reserve to chase down the target.
Despite the best efforts of Cam Armstrong, who scored 71, Romsey was bowled out for 180.
Broadford will play in the Club Grade North grand final against Malmsbury Green after a dominant nine-wicket win over Malmsbury Gold.
Youngster Cooper Altas had a day to remember, taking three catches and securing two run-outs in leaving Malmsbury Gold in all sorts, scoring 9/109.
Austin Withers took 3/29, while Martin Egan’s 2/18 and Yaj Bhatt’s 2/18 provided good support.
Kyle Redenbach’s 48 and Andrew Pope’s 39 ensured Broadford would get the job done easily for the loss of just one wicket, scoring 114 off 30 overs.