Magpies triumph

By Iain Harley
BELGRAVE have won their sixth first division flag with Lynton Toms winning the Stephen Lee Medal for best afield, in what could be his last game.
Belgrave, celebrating their centenary year, compiled a day one score of 9/231 against Ferntree Gully in the FTGDCA grand final.
The Magpies started well being 2/80 just after tea, with Jonathon Levell making 40.
There was a slight stumble as they then lost 3 quick wickets to be 5/111. Toms (61) held the second half of the innings together to see Belgrave post their score.
The best bowlers for the blues were Mark Butters with 4 wickets and Matt Black taking 3.
The Blues chase on day two started badly when they were 3/38.
A good middle order partnership of 70 between Graham Salan and Adrian Binns saw Ferntree Gully fight back before Binns was dismissed with the score on 154. Salan on 63 was the ninth wicket to fall and any hope of victory for the Blues was extinguished.
The decorated Toms collected 3 wickets and 61 runs in what was a great final series for him. Medium pacer Simon Hill also contributed with 3 wickets.
A hard fought Decoite Shield grand final saw Monbulk win promotion to Knox Tavern Cup and Darren Hill named Best on Ground two years running, taking the Ken Utting Medal with 7/61 off 35.1 overs
Monbulk were bowled out for 171 on day one with extras top score and the Upwey bowlers well on top. Jason Fraser was the best of the batsmen for the Hawks with 29, but it was the fact that it took 139 balls that showed the cautious approach taken by Monbulk. Fraser was dropped on 13 but failed to make the Tigers pay. Paul McCarrick (3/24) was the best of the bowlers with evergreen Shane Cross (3/35) and Michael Coles (3/54) also chipping in.
The Tigers came out aggressively on day two but lost steady wickets to be 6/82 at tea. Shane Richardson stood tall being the last wicket to fall for 62. In a game that saw momentum shift several times Darren Hill closed out the game with 25 runs to spare.