By STEVE BROWN
KNOX Garden’s first taste of Reeves Shield finals action ended in disaster when they were defeated by Eildon Park by nine wickets inside day one of a two-day affair at the weekend.
The Falcons went into the game full of confidence, after defeating the Panthers only seven days before.
After winning the toss, they elected to bat, but after that nothing went right.
Eildon Park seamer Michael Sinclair, celebrating his 37th birthday, struck from the first over, leaving The Gardens shell-shocked, losing two wickets without a run on the board.
Falcon’s skipper Steve Alderton went to the crease with his team under immense pressure, and he dug in until the tea break, but unfortunately was dismissed second ball after the interval for a tenacious 25.
Knox Gardens had no answer to Sinclair as he claimed 5/7 from 11 overs and took two catches, one being a candidate for a classic catch.
Meanwhile, medium-pacer, Adrian Baltruschaitis, chipped in with 3/15 from seven overs, as the batting side was bundled out for just 61 after 50 overs.
Aggressive opening batting pair Cody and Ben Morris began the chase in quick fashion and the Falcons conceded defeat at 5.45pm, with Eildon Park in full control at 1/83.
In the other semi-final, being played at Batterham Park, top side The Basin was well placed at 1/67 from 37 overs against Johnson Park.
The Basin was on target for 200 until some tight finals bowling from the Sharks, in particular off-spinner Steve Devenish, with 5/40.
The Bears then slumped to 7/164 with seven overs remaining, before losing the final three wickets for just one run to be all out 165.
Opening batsman Joel Clarke occupied the crease for some time for his 36, while Jayden Turcinovic was the backbone of the middle-order, top scoring with 47.
Johnson Park was in a similar position at 2/84 at the tea break, before Matthew Heskes made the breakthrough and it was the Sharks under pressure at 6/120 in the 59th over.
Experienced tailender Andrew Gottliebsen joined Cam Bourke and the pair blunted the attack and reeled in the target with four overs to spare.
Johnson Park will now play Eildon Park for the first time in a Reeves Shield Grand Final at Eildon Park.
Meanwhile, on a sad note, FTGDCA stalwart and Life Member Bryan Mitchell passed away on Friday after a long illness.
Bryan was an outstanding wicket-keeper, captaining the association’s country week team in 1950, and was at the helm when Upwey-Tecoma won its first A Grade premiership in 1955, before playing at Footballers and Belgrave cricket clubs.
Mitchell later went on to run the association’s tribunal and was the official scorer for the league for many years.
He was awarded life membership in 1999.
Players from Saturday’s matches observed a minute’s silence and wore black arm bands in respect for a gentleman who will be sadly missed.
Scores
Semi Finals
Reeves Shield
Eildon Park 1/83 (B. Morris 31, C. Morris 38no) d Knox Gardens 61 (Alderton 25, Sinclair 5/7, Baltsruchaitis 3/15). Johnson Park 7/172 (Gottliebsen 30, Stallworthy 29, Heskes 3/53) d The Basin 165 (Clarke 36, Turcinovic 47, S. Devenish 5/40).
Grand Final – Eildon Park Vs Johnson Park at Eildon Parade
Decoite Shield
Footballers 183 (Lakshita 36, Cranston 34, Suckling 4/42) d South Belgrave 96 (Lakshita 7/33).
Mt Gate 4/192 (Wheeler 63, Bunting 54no) d Auravale 190 (Harman 45, Deller 3/32, Bunting 3/40)
Grand Final – Mt Gate Vs Footballers at Windermere Res.
Division 3
Knox Gardens 2/149 (Marget 101) d Ferntree Gully 148 (Vernon 5/21)
The Basin 4/127 (Cook 66no, Goodger 4/43) d Upper Gully 119 (Duff 36, Lee 5/30).
