Sharks put bite on leaders

By Steve Brown
SECOND-placed Johnson Park dominated on day one of the FTGDCA Round 10 Knox Tavern Cup clash with leaders, Ferntree Gully.
The Gully Blues, batting first, got off to a bad start with Mark Teofilo run out first ball of the game. However, young opener Ryan Handley and Randall Joseph (75) steadied the ship and at tea the home side was 3/90.
After the break nothing went the Gully’s way losing 7/31 to be all out for 121, which included five ducks.
Adrian Romei had the best bowling figures with 4/19 and at stumps the Shark’s are 29 without loss.
In the other match of the round where the loser could drop out of the four, Eildon Park batted poorly to be all out for 157 against fourth-placed Belgrave.
Eildon Park’s innings would have been in a shambles had it not been for the in-form Shane Cosstick’s (65) combining with James Tate (38), who has just returned to the first X1.
The Panther’s bowlers were right on top at the close of play with Belgrave in dire trouble at 5/29.
Rowville skipper Paul Evans (72) and Paul Goodchild (44) led from the front in their clash with Mountain Gate with the Hawks being the form batting team since Christmas. Mountain Gate needing a win to keep in touch with a finals berth, requires 305 for victory.
St Johns Tecoma, one win out of the four, had Knoxfield on the ropes at 7/40 at Talaskia Reserve. However, the Knights scrambled to 134.
It was the Saints turn to bat and they were under pressure at 4/49 and were happy to call stumps at 6pm with two night watchmen included in the dismissals.
Upper Gully ventured to Lysterfield and has put the home team under pressure by recording 250 with Robbie Winters top-scoring with 55. David Smith and Matt Dempsey performed well with the ball for the Beavers.
The Basin’s Josh Lee (61) helped his team to 9/231 against Upwey with assistance from Glen Bunker and Danny Rundle. Lanky Upwey off-spinner Steve Gannell took four wickets for the Tigers.
In the Decoite Shield, Footballer’s fast bowler Steve Hart blitzed Knoxfield with 8/35 from 18 overs to add to his nine-wicket haul last season against Monbulk. Footballers are in the box seat chasing a modest 141.
South Belgrave had Knox Gardens on their knees at 6/51 only to see the visitors recover to 182.
Ferntree Gully youngsters Josh Henry (80) and Topp (52) dominated in their total of 280 against Johnson Park.
Lysterfield 3/245 declared, have backed themselves against Upper Gully (1/26), with former Upwey batsman Darren Spence (91) and Patterson (90) narrowly missing centuries.
Monbulk recorded 232 on the small Auravale ground with Jason Fraser contributing 70 while Upwey have set The Basin 211 to win with Shane Richardson (78) and Carney (4/37) the best performers.
In other news, the proposed FTGDCA youth squad tour to Sri Lanka has been postponed until next season due to civil unrest. Players who expressed interest this year will be considered irrespective of their age.