Lysterfield set for assault

By Steve Brown
ONLY Lysterfield stands in the way of Rowville winning back-to-back premierships next weekend in the final of the Ferntree Gully and District Cricket Association (FTGDCA) Knox Tavern Cup.
Reigning premier Rowville set Upwey 214 for victory on the back of Scott Duane’s knock of 48 and Dave Kennett contributing 34, while the ever-reliable duo of Matt Grace and Shane Cross took three wickets apiece.
The Tigers were settling in nicely at 2/60 with Paul Henry (38) looking the goods, however their run chase ended disastrously, the team fading to 7/70 and finally all out for a dismal 139 with wickets shared by all Rowville bowlers.
Ferntree Gully posted 154 in its semi-final against Lysterfield only to go lose by two wickets.
The Blues batted through day one and were well set at 3/99 until leg spinner Chris Hill entered the fray taking the crucial wickets of Black, Salan and Franchi in the space of 10 minutes.
Hill, standing in as skipper for the injured Matt Dempsey, finished with 5/42 from 23 overs.
Dempsey would be devastated missing the finals following an accident. He broke his thumb on selection night and will not take any part in the final.
Hill showed his versatility by opening the batting and was run out for 32 with the total on 85 before a series of run outs put Gully back in the game.
Finch’s unbeaten 19 at the end was invaluable, together with Shane Burdon’s contribution, and the Lysterfield crowd went berserk after the club reached its first cup final.
“This is awesome,” Dempsey said after the match.
“We have won all of our close ones this year and we deserve to be there.”
The Decoite Shield will see Monbulk tackle favourite Eildon Park after defeating South Belgrave in a nail biter in the final over of the match.
Monbulk dominated early having South 7/60, however a rearguard action by Daniel Maxwell, Anderson and Barrell enabled South Belgrave to reach 191.
Monbulk was positive in its chase and had the game in hand at 4/130 until a sensational spell by fast bowler Todd Burley, who took 5/45 from 32.
The game changed when Burley knocked Jason Fraser’s middle peg from the ground and suddenly the Hawks required 12 runs from the final pair, with young Keiron Gray (12 not out) scoring the winning runs off the exhausted Burley.
In the other semi-final, Footballers never made a fist of their quest for 205 against Eildon Park, losing by 65 runs.
Lee Leathem was the best of the batsmen with 55 not out while for the winners, Shane Cosstick and Ben Morris anchored the innings.
Footballers off-spinner Adam Carey tried hard for a return of 6/41 from 35 overs.