By STEVE BROWN
FTGDCA
KNOX Gardens will participate in its first Reeves Shield finals campaign since joining the Ferntree Gully and District Cricket Association in 1991, after arguably their best win of the season over reigning premiers, Eildon Park.
In the final home and away round, Eildon Park took first use of the wicket and knocked up 8/193 from their 40 overs.
Opener Ben Morris continued his good form with a brisk 71 while Zach Flintoff was the pick of the bowlers with 3/41.
In reply, the opening combination of Jarrod Butcher (58) and Shannon Small (94) did the hard yards before skipper Steve Alderton struck the winning runs with nine balls to spare.
The win sees the Falcons move to third, with the Panthers dropping to second, prompting a re-match and a semi-final berth next week.
Bottom side Belgrave used their get-out-of-jail-free card as they defeated the highly fancied Johnson Park by three wickets, ultimately avoiding relegation.
Johnson Park batted well to register 4/222 with Steve Devenish scoring his second ton of the season, ably supported by the experienced Bryn Gaunt with 73.
In the run chase, the Magpies batted brilliantly under pressure hauling in the total thanks to timely contributions from Jake Balfour, Doug Oaten and newcomer Chris Paul with 63.
Second-placed The Basin jumped to the top of the ladder after accounting for Monbulk by six wickets and will play Johnson Park in the semi-final.
Jake Best once again top scored for the Bears with 36 while leg-spinner Craig Broekof took 3/28 for Monbulk.
Knoxfield continues to impress with another win, this time at the expense of Ferntree Gully.
The Gully, dismissed for 143, failed to bat their 40 overs as the Knights with wickets in the bank reached the target with five balls remaining.
Feaver and Lomax Medallist Trent Scholfield produced a man-of-the-match performance with 3/28 and 30no, while opener Kyle Povah helped set up the win with 54.
Upwey Tecoma finished the season with a win over Upper Gully, but will rue lost opportunities during the season, and will finish in sixth place.
Upper Gully’s 6/153 was not enough with the Tigers passing the score seven wickets down.
Upwey evergreen Brendan Heath made a return to the first XI to top score with 31.
The loss for Upper Ferntree Gully sees the Kings dropping to Decoite Shield next season for the first time in the club’s history.
Reeves Shield
The Basin 4/122 (Best 36 Broekhof 3/28) d Monbulk 8/117, Knoxfield 5/145 (Povah 54, Scholfield 30no) d Ferntree Gully 143 (Teofilo 38, Bartlett 35, L.Scanlan 3/21 McKenzie 3/23 Scholfield 3/25), Knox Gardens 6/194 (Small 94, Butcher 58) d Eildon Park 8/193 (B. Morris 71, Baltruchatis 37, Flintoff 3/41) Belgrave 7/224 (Balfour 33, Oaten 36, Paul 63) d Johnson Park 4/222 (S. Devenish 100, Gaunt 73) Upwey Tecoma 7/158 (Heath 31) d Upper Gully 6/153 (Claughton 35 Newman 33)
Next Week (semi-finals)
The Basin v Johnson Park at Batterham Park
Eildon Park v Knox Gardens at Eildon Park
Decoite Shield
Mt Gate 7/196 (Fitzgerald 52no, Suckling 3/34) d South Belgrave 91 (Deller 4/15) Auravale 3/99 (Miles 31no, Phillips 37no) d Rowville 94 (Dodd 4/17, MacDonald 3/13) St Johns Tecoma 9/148 (Betts 38, Smith 36, Grenda 35, Hunt 3/25) d Lysterfield 146 (Kulasena 46, Binks 51, Brasher 4/15) Footballers 8/180 (Rawlings 72) d Knox City 134
Next Week (semi-finals)
Mt Gate v Auravale at Windermere Res
South Belgrave v Footballers at South Belgrave Res
