Belgrave clinch a nail-biter

BELGRAVE Cricket Club’s first XI pulled themselves out of a deep hole and the second XI won a nail-biter in round 10 of the FTGDCA.
Chasing a modest 157 set by Eildon Park, Belgrave were 5/29 overnight and looking at the possibility of tumbling out of the four.
Lee Newey was not out at stumps and although scoring only 13 runs, he steadied the innings and provided a platform for two of the club’s best batsmen to step in and faultlessly set about providing the 128 runs needed on day two to claim the 6 points.
Scott Vozzo made 71 not out and skipper Chris Dalkin made 42 not out before stumps were drawn due to the heat. Far from the disaster of day one, the form of Vozzo and Dalkin gives the Magpies an optimistic outlook for the next 3 matches.
The seconds met Ferntree Gully Footballers in a likely dress rehearsal for the semi-final. Belgrave were sent in on day one and made 9/279. Ben Carnell (65), and Stewart Harvey (76) were the best of the batsmen.
After the Belgrave team put in a less than impressive performance prior to tea, the tide turned in the second session as fielding improved and Tom McNamara proved to be the difference with the ball, taking 5/38.
The Basin visited Belgrave Reserve to meet the thirds and could only muster 141 runs on day one. They must have felt well in the game on day two, though, as the home side stumbled to 7/55.
A captain’s knock of 68 not out by Damien Argoon, including an 8th wicket partnership of 87 with Richard McNamara righted the ship and Belgrave took the points with 8/147.
The seconds and thirds each retain top of the ladder status with one round yet to be played.
The fourth XI consolidated their place in second spot in division 6 with an away win at Ferntree Gully. Mat Skinner (4/25) and Ryan Marshman (3/30) rolled the Gully boys for 167, while Belgrave made 6/183, Mat Finch (30) and Mark Bourke (29) were the best with the bat.
The fifths will miss finals action, but still managed to take the points against Footballers this week. Footballers could only make 115.
Nick Feeney (3/37) and John Evans (4/36) had good figures, while man-of-the-match Feeney’s 33, as well as 37 made on day one from the skipper Paul Chaproniere got Belgrave over the line.
Belgrave’s U17s consolidate their place in the top four by beating fifth-placed Johnson Park-St Johns combine.
Tom Hope made 34 of Belgrave’s 9/170, but Mat McNamara was man of the match, scoring 27 and taking 4/48.
The U13s probably lost any chance of finals action as they went down to fourth-placed Ferntree Gully.
Gully made 5/118, one wicket apiece to Glazner, Rennick, Bullick, Lowe and Hoppner. Belgrave’s reply of 5/96 was dominated by Sam Glazner’s fourth 20 retired on the trot and Tom Fidge’s 20 retired.