By STEVE BROWN
MONBULK medium-pacer, Aaron Powell, tore through the Ferntree Gully top order on day one of the penultimate round of Reeves Shield in the Ferntree Gully District Cricket Association.
At the Wally Tew Oval last weekend, in seaming conditions after heavy downfalls, Powell, a Lomax medallist from his playing days at Eildon Park, was unplayable.
The Blues were 4/1 before crawling to 6/30.
Lower-order batsmen Shane Richardson and Harrison Brown then dug in.
However, once they fell, the Gully was dismissed for 108 after just 48 overs, with Powell taking 5/30.
With two hours of play remaining, the Blues struck back, having Monbulk 5/50 in reply with the game now in the balance.
Upwey Tecoma (fifth) is playing Knox Gardens (fourth), with the boys from the gardens looking for their first finals appearance in Reeves Shield.
Upwey put in another poor batting performance in a big game and could only muster 89.
But like the previous game, the Tigers fought back to have the Falcons 5/62, requiring another 29 runs to lock out Upwey from the four.
At Carrington Park, Knoxfield has responded without their captain, Scott McKenzie, and knocked over Upper Gully for just 131.
Upper Gully’s Phil Salter was stranded on 43 after running out of partners given the impressive figures from opening bowlers Mitchell Perry (2/26 from 16) and Mitch Burley 3/30 from 17 economical overs.
In reply, The Knights upped the tempo, ending the day 2/58 in just 12 overs to be in command.
Top side Eildon Park sent third-placed Johnson Park into bat, as the Sharks struck a handy 240 at Eildon Park.
Jordy Dunstone hit 35, with skipper Andrew Devenish 33 also chiming in.
Panthers spearhead Nathan Caton-Robertson took another four-wicket haul to add to his six last round.
With 240 on the board, the Sharks must pierce the opening combination of the Morris brothers next week to take control.
Belgrave struggled against a tight Basin attack, led by Jarryd Debernadi (3/15) and Scott Vozzo (3/35), as the Magpies managed just 142.
The Basin should return to the winners’ list without any hurdles.
Meanwhile, South Belgrave and Belgrave will battle it out for the Saxon Sports T20 grand final to be held at South Belgrave Recreation Reserve today at 5.30pm.
Reeves Shield
Ferntree Gully 108 (Powell 5/30) vs Monbulk 5/50, Upwey Tecoma 89 vs Knox Gardens 5/62, Johnson Park 240 (A. Devenish 33, Dunstone 35, Sinclair 3/74, Caton-Robertson 4/31) vs Eildon Park, Belgrave 142 (Debernardi 3/15, Vozzo 3/35) vs The Basin, Upper Gully 131 (Salter 43no, Burley 3/30 Scholfield 3/33) vs Knoxfield 2/58.
Decoite Shield
South Belgrave 6/326 (Sutherland 104no, Baker 98, J. McDermott 53, Sarlija 4/66) vs Auravale, St Johns Tecoma 119 (Lakshita 5/33, Xiberras 3/24) vs Footballers 1/11, Rowville 79 (Bunting 4/27, Wheeler 4/28) vs Mt Gate 7/192 (Rozakis 101no, Wheeler 43, Guest 3/0), Lysterfield Vs Knox City (no play)
Division 3
The Basin 156 (Cook 30, Porch 30, Feeney 3/23, Hudson 3/18) vs Belgrave 5/49 (Wallace 3/11), Monbulk 95 (Downes 5/44, A. Catalano 3/10) vs Ferntree Gully 1/53, Knox Gardens 9/302 (Marget 151, Young 53, Lizza 3/44, Hughes 3/99) vs Upwey Tecoma, Eildon Park 319 (Gaskin 38, Dietzel 51, Porter 40, Tate 57, Gupta 36, Siwek 40) vs Johnson Park, Rowville 120 (Wimalaratna 5/33, Atacador 3/14) vs Mt Gate 1/51.
Division 4
South Belgrave 3/213 (Hart 79, Maddox 42no) vs Auravale 52 (Ziza 7/22). All other games (no play)
Division 5
South Belgrave 88 (Stewart 3/17) vs Knoxfield 3/154 (Harris 75 Seymour 32). All other games (no play)
Division 6
Rowville 8/89 (Van Eck 40, Heffernan 3/19, Griffin 3/9) vs Mt Gate 4/119 (Tucker 54). All other games (no play)
Division 7
Monbulk 3/105 (P. Utting 43no, Dekkers 32) vs Eildon Park 5/67, Upper Gully 5/76 (Shineberg 34) vs Johnson Park 5/69 (Strange 3/15), Knox Gardens 5/78 vs Ferntree Gully 3/94 (Jacobson 49)
B1
Knox City 3/79B2 d Belgrave 75
Waverley Wanderers 9/201 (Perera 53no, A. Fernando 31, Morris 3/30) d Eildon Park 174 (Dozzi 36, K. Fernando 3/49), Lysterfield 4/219 (Peluso 52no, Plunkett 50no) d Knox Boronia Churches 4/139.
