By Steve Brown
UPWEY could only muster 166 at home to The Basin in the Ferntree Gully and District Cricket Association’s round 11, as Upwey legend, Shane Cross played what could be his final match in the Knox Tavern Cup.
The 44-year-old has caused havoc to batting line-ups since the early 1980s and has captured almost 550 first grade wickets. He will continue to play next season in the lower grades for the love of the game.
Dain Howe was the only bright light with 51 for the Tigers while Shane Underhill (4/24) bowled well after a stint in the seconds.
In reply, the Huntsmen are on track at 3/85 with skipper Adam Luckman still at the crease on 42 in what could also be his final game after four years at the helm.
Fourth-placed Monbulk has appeared to have secured a finals berth, knocking up 329 against Upper Gully.
Chris Coen, who has had a very consistent year, blasted 115 and received solid support from Shane Colee (61) and Darren Hill (45).
Shane Seamer collected his best figures in first XI cricket with 5/57 for the Kings who will require a mighty effort to get over the line against last season’s Decoite Shield premiers.
After last week’s win over Monbulk, top side Rowville took the foot off the gas against a competitive Mountain Gate and were bowled out for 176 in the 75th over.
Nick Dunn got a start with 45 however it was outswing bowler Anthony Bailey (4/46) and Athula Samarasekera (3/32 from 26 consecutive overs) who held the Hawks at bay.
Ferntree Gully (294) has too many on the board for finalist Johnson Park. Josh Henry and Mark Butters added a century stand for the sixth wicket.
The Gully must win next week and rely on Upper Gully to defeat Monbulk to make the finals.
Belgrave surprised Eildon Park by posting 257 at home with John Levell and Leigh Newey, the main contributors.
At stumps, Eildon Park skipper Josh Dowling was quietly confident after day one.
“We were a little disappointed with them getting 257 but it’s a small ground and we are excited by the run chase next week. It will be a good test going into the finals.”
Knoxfield’s bats were aggressive from the outset against St John’s Tecoma, who were without aces Marc Hardy and Danny Pearce, but fell for 179 with Scanlan making 52.
The Saints were 0/20 in reply but slumped to 6/67 at stumps with Sean Marchetti claiming four victims.
Scores
Knox Tavern Cup
Rowville 176 (Dunn 45, Gillespie 30, Anderson 30, Bailey 4/46, Samarasekera 3/32, Heffernan 3/44) v Mountain Gate.
Upwey 166 (Howe 51, Underhill 4/24, Luckman 3/26) v The Basin 3/85 (Luckman 42*).
Ferntree Gully 7/294 (Millard 58, Butters 55, Black 34, Henry 66*, Desilva 4/71) v Johnson Park.
Knoxfield 179 (Scanlan 52, Pitts 4/25) v St John’s Tecoma 6/67 (Johnson 31, Marchetti 4/35).
Belgrave 257 v Eildon Park.
Monbulk 329 (C. Coen 115, Hill 45, S. Colee 65, Fraser 33, Seamer 5/57) v Upper Gully.
Decoite Shield
The Basin 232 v Upwey.
Ferntree Gully 5/270 (Bradbury 123*, Hall 33, Lee 32, Simm 3/35) v Johnson Park 63 (Anstey 5/27, Lee 3/22).
Knox Gardens 5/193 (Bailey 72, Butcher 62) v Knoxfield 79 (Wild 6/32).
Auravale 239 (Harman 61, Martin 69, Ranaweera 61, Gill 5/53, Caton-Robertson 5/75) v Eildon Park.
Footballers 9/302 (Manoj 69, Marriott 65, Storey 44, Hart 32) v South Belgrave.
Knox 86 (Dempsey 3/40) v Lysterfield 3/136 (C. Hill 64).
Division 3
Lysterfield 9/253 (T. Binks 61, Carter 39, Dean 36*, R.Binks 35, Williamson 3/40, Castledine 3/59, Pruysers 3/62) v Footballers.
Mountain Gate 148 (Davey 39, Wooley 4/29, S. Oudshoorn 3/23) v Rowville 0/23.
Division 4
Ferntree Gully 134 (Everitt 41, Rowe 3/65, Grenda 3/19) v St John’s Tecoma 1/58.
Upwey 179 (Rendell 34) v Lysterfield 1/46.
Division 5
Knoxfield 4/175 (Brown 49, Faulkner 34, Round 43*) v Mountain Gate 57 (A. Larcombe 7/21).
Belgrave 229 (Wulz 56, Argoon 40, Connolly 43, Reid 3/48) v Johnson Park.
Division 6
Knox Gardens 233 (Mills 90, Thomas 45, Howes 30, Martin 6/49) v Eildon Park.
Lysterfield 276 (Carbery 75, Wilson 60*, Fay 3/68, Davis 3/72) v The Basin.
Upwey 154 (Carden 35, Haysom 37, T. Fraser 3/27) v Monbulk 0/34.
Division 7
St John’s Tecoma 187 (B. Glen 69, D. Lucas 32, Hodge 3/43, Millar 3/15) v Bayswater 9/37 (D. Lucas 5/13, Heyward 3/8).
Knoxfield 400 (Evans 196, M. Larcombe 52, Wilson 57, Petrovksi 46) v Footballers.
Johnson Park 285 (Quigg 53, Fryer 47, Rattle 44, Graham 43, Reid 41, Coombe 3/71) v Mountain Gate.
Under 17/1 Healthguard Cup
Knox Gardens 5/215 (Metherell 46, Wilson 55, Hoggett 69*, Rotheram 3/43) v Eildon Park.
Upwey 1/18 v Bayswater 125 (McArdle 65, Wood 3/10).
Knoxfield 6/279 (Boxell 69, Hillyer 81, Wilson 43) v The Basin.
Mulgrave 180 (Crozier 46, Waldron 37, Veridian 5/35, Duke 3/38) v Johnson Park.
Under 17/2
Belgrave 153 (M. Quigg 7/35 incl hat trick) v Johnson Park 5/59 (Griffen 3/9).
Upper Gully 8/201 (C. Hart 32) v Basin/Mountain Gate.
Rowville 145 (Schout 76, Spark 3/41, Howe 3/15) v Lysterfield.
Under 15/1
Eildon Park 9/309 (Hicks 89*, Remington 55*, Casey 52) v Mountain Gate.
Upwey 9/193 (Brown 44, Whiteman 43, McElroy 4/29) v Lysterfield.
Knoxfield 134 (Holst 42, Davis 3/10) v Ferntree Gully 0/14.
Under 15/2A
Eildon Park 4/210 (Mathers 54*, Szabo 51*, Wadlow 51*) v Mountain Gate.
The Basin 172 (Kean 53*, Betts 48) v Upwey.
Knoxfield 42 (D. Stanciu 4/8 incl hat trick) v Johnson Park 2/93 (Roy 48*).
Under 15/2B
Mulgrave 180 (Dsouza 42) v Eildon Park.
Upwey 4/150 (Fraser 54*) v Belg/South Belgrave.
Lysterfield 8/155 (Noll 52*, Harris 23) v Upper Gully.
Under 13/1
Lysterfield 3/190 (Inglis 43*, Ricardo 41*, MacGregor 22*, Emmett 2/19) v Monbulk.
Eildon Park 9/182 (Harper 55*, Dietzel 30, Sidhu 3/24) v Mulgrave.
Ferntree Gully 139 (Waller 31*, Dorman 29, Chambers 3/23, Barnard 2/11, Perfect 2/10) v Upwey.
Rowville 111 (Lim 38, Wylde 3/13) v Knox Gardens 1/48.
Under 13/2A
Mountain Gate 176 (Gupta 3/13) v Eildon Park Wildcats.
Johnson Park 7/181 (Cosentino 30*, O’Neill 29*) v Knox Gardens.
Bayswater 9/80 (Ingleton 40*, Murray 2/13) d Footballers 4/78 (Hazza-Brown 22*, S. McFadyen 17, Ingleton 2/3).
Under 13/2B
Upper Gully 4/182 (Claughton 32*, Dunstone 30*, Harrison 31*, Dileo 24*) v Eildon Park.
Upwey 233 (Geddes 30 Waters 30*, Crossy 30*, Fraser 35*, Wallace 2/35) v Lysterfield.
Mulgrave 6/167 (Kester 30*, Sethi 28, Seneviratne 23*, Lowe 2/9) v South Belgrave.
Knox Gardens 6/123 (Richmond 27, O’Connor 27*) v Eildon Park.
Under 11 (non comp)
Lysterfield 98 (Jewell 14, Bradley 13, Rak 2/7) v Monbulk 105 (T. Knoll 16*, C. Knoll 14*, Cahill 2/7).
