by Ian Harley
IT TOOK until the last ball of the day for St Johns Tecoma to overcome newly promoted Knox Gardens at Talaskia Oval.
The Falcons batted first and looked to be well on their way when their first wicket fell with 72 on the board.
After the fall of the fourth wicket at 126, 16-year-old Spinner Corey Brasher was introduced into the attack and took 5/18 runs in only his second Knox Tavern Cup game.
The Falcons finished their innings at 9/185. In reply the Saints struggled early at 3/39 before opener Dean Palandri (95 not out) and Kyle Chandler (44) settled the ship with a 114-run partnership.
With nine runs required for victory off the last over, Palandri struck a four off the first ball, then with two singles off the next four balls, needed three off the last ball. With the field spread he managed to hit the long on fence claiming the six points. Reigning premiers Ferntree Gully got the new season off to a strong start with an emphatic victory over Lysterfield. The Beavers batted first and found the going hard against Ferntree Gully’s bowling line-up, setting the Blues a target of 125.
In reply Ferntree Gully cruised past Lysterfield’s score finishing the day on 3/189. Ryan Handley topscored with 91 before being dismissed backing up too far. Handy knocks came from Mark Teofilo and Matthew Black, both compiling 40s. Batsmen dominated the game at Belgrave with both teams losing four wickets in a game decided in the second last over of the day.
Batting first Rowville posted 4/191 with Tate Bergman 55 not out supported by Bogar(40) and Guest(32). The Magpies’ chase saw Leigh Newey make 53 not out with Scott Vozzo and Ben Carnell both reaching the 30s.
At Upwey it was a different story with 20 wickets falling for the day. It seemed that Monbulk had the Tigers’ measure at 6/32 with recruit Matt Mulcahy back in the shed for a duck.
Upwey fought back with Leigh Bianchi (32) topscoring. The Tigers’ attack of Bianchi, Wilson and Cross kept the Hawks hunting before Brendan Heath took 3/0 to seal victory.
Last season’s runners-up, Eildon Park, posted a strong win over The Basin with the Morris brothers, Ben (57) and Cody (31) adding to Shane Cosstick’s 4/15. Bryn Gaunt (88) lead the way for Johnson Park to take the points over Upper Ferntree Gully despite a spell of 4/15 to Jay Colee.
In the Decoite Shield Knoxfield was too strong for Auravale, South Belgrave defeated Mountain Gate and Footballers chased down Knox to take the chocolates.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:KNOX TAVERN CUP
St Johns Tecoma 187 (D. Palandri 95*, K. Chandler) d Knox Gardens 185 (M. Dalton 58, C. Brasher 5/18)
Upwey Tecoma 127 (L. Bianchi 32, Thilan 4/24, J. Simmonds 3/26) d Monbulk 103 (J. Duff 57, B. Heath 3/0)
Ferntree Gully 3/189 (M. Teofilo 42, R. Handley 91, M. Black 41*) d Lysterfield 9/125
Eildon Park 2/116 (B. Morris 57, C. Morris 31) d The Basin 9/114 (S. Cosstick 4/15)
Belgrave 4/193 (Newey 53*, Vozzo 39, Carnell 37) d Rowville 4/191 (Bergmann 55*, Bogar 40, Guest 32)
Johnson Park 6/183 (B. Gaunt 88, P. Dunlop 31, Colee 4/15) d Upper Ferntree Gully 121 (D. Goodger 31, Grant 3/21)
@BT Sport Sub Mail:DECOITE SHIELD
South Belgrave 4/125 (D. Ray 41, A. White 36*, G. Shaw 3/24) d Mt Gate 9/124 (S. Burridge 32, R. Barry 20, I. Tua 20, Baker 3/39)
FTG Footballers 4/110 d Knox 102 (L. Hooper 33, A. Carey 3/27)
Knoxfield 6/200 (M. Train 52, M. Pruysers 51, T. Boxell 41) d Aura Vale 103 (B. Holst 3/11,
Z. Wilson 3/15)
@BT Sport Sub Mail:DIVISION 3
St Johns Tecoma 7/158 (Timmers 59, Clacy 41, Ad. Zandt 3/37) d Knox Gardens 7/152 (S. Taylor 37, C. Mostert 65*, A. Chandler 3/26)
Upwey Tecoma 4/152 (Mitchell Hewitt 50, Michael Hewitt 42) d Monbulk 7/146 (S. Bohun 73)
Lysterfield 7/121 (Whitty 38) d Ferntree Gully 119 (M. Mazzanti 30, J. Garland 3/27)
The Basin 2/151 (M. Whalan 54, C. Betka 46*) d Eildon Park 145 (C. Trotter 36, D. Smyth 45, J. Debernardi 3/16)
Belgrave 2/114 (Peters 32) d Rowville 108 (Peters 4/24)
@BT Sport Sub Mail:DIVISION 4
FTG Footballers 2/90 (L. Story 51) d Knox 83 (A. Percy 33, D. Cranston 3/12, L. Johns 3/15)
South Belgrave 6/146 (P. Steunenberg 47, T. Park 3/31) d Mountain Gate 124 (M. Burridge 43, P. Adams 36, D. Bromley 3/14, J. McDermott 4/25)
Knoxfield 1/64 (J. Balfour 53*) d Aura Vale 57 (G. Malone 4/26, J. Sake 3/7)
@BT Sport Sub Mail:DIVISION 5
Upwey 8/166 (M. Anderson 44*, N. Montague 3/28) d Knox Gardens 119 (D. Vernon 33)
Ferntree Gully 5/159 (M. Reed 61*, M. Catalano 41) d Monbulk 7/101 (A. Beekhuyzen 3/10)
The Basin 186 (S. Porch 65*, R. Heskes 43) d Lysterfield 8/119 (Peatling 39)
Eildon Park 4/168 (B. Hoban 89*, D. Tasker 33) d Knoxfield 7/163 (S. Faulkner 73*, R. Kodi 34)
Belgrave 2/167 (Smith 77*, M. Levell 49*) d Rowville 7/122 (White 33, Walker 32)
@BT Sport Sub Mail:DIVISION 6
Aura vale 7/148 (M. Hancock 3/13) d Knox Gardens 124 (G. George 30, A. Clark 4/14)
FTG Footballers 9/224 (R. Amy 87, R. Pearce 3/19) d St Johns Tecoma 139 (Dan Eagle 45, C. Klimeki 4/13, T. White 3/2)
Eildon Park 2/62 (M. Jackson 35) d Mountain Gate 58 (P. Cutts 3/7, F. Femia 3/6)
@BT Sport Sub Mail:DIVISION 7
FTG 8/104 (R. Sevior 32, M. Casement 3/13, J. Boyd 3/19) d Knoxfield 101 (G. James 5/35, D. Jones 3/12)
Johnson Park 6/96 (S Langenburg 35) d Eildon Park 9/89 (3/12)
Lysterfield 7/129 (S. Bras 30, J. Greenard 34, J. Linder 3/12) d Mountain Gate 6/123 (M. Argus 38, J. Linder 32, C. Sutton 3/43)
UFTG d Belgrave (forfeit)
