By Ian Harley
FTGDCA
A century to Upper Ferntree Gully’s Daniel Beyer has sent the Kings into another Reeves Shield grand final, with a rematch of the semi-final against Knoxfield next weekend at Carrington Park.
Beyer (116) anchored the innings with Jay Colee (35) to win in emphatic style by seven wickets and 20 overs to spare.
Beyer hit four sixes, including one to bring up his century, and 13 boundaries after going in with the score on 1/7.
On day one, Eildon Park fought back to reach 202, having struggled to 7/99, courtesy of opening bowler Todd Burley grabbing three wickets in nine balls, while the unflappable Shane Cosstick was trying to hold the innings together.
When the Panthers lost their seventh wicket, the thought of batting on day one would have entered the head of Kings skipper Peter Dunlop, however, Cosstick was joined by Steve Pimm.
He batted with intent and attacked the bowling.
When Cosstick fell to a return catch to Collard for 52, the pair added 67 for the seventh wicket and the batting side had 200 in their sights.
Tailender Andrew Brown added 13 valuable runs with Pimm, who was dismissed by Burley for 60 which included three sixes and four boundaries.
Then Burley claimed the last wicket in the 74th over, the Panthers at least had a target to defend.
Burley was sensational taking 6/58 from 25 overs, but it was Beyer’s innings that set the Kings for a grand final appearance.
Johnson Park will take on Lysterfield at Lakesfield Reserve for the DeCoite Shield after an emphatic victory over Footballers.
The Griffins were bowled out before tea as Tom Nash took 5/47 for the Sharks and Liyan DeSilva chimed in with 3/32.
Jacob Patterson (19) and Tharanga Lakshita (19) put on the biggest partnership 33 for the seventh wicket, but the steady fall of wickets saw Footballers’ season come to an end with the score on 112.
On day one, Johnson Park (235) put their noses to the grindstone and batted the full day.
Middle-order batsman David Devenish top scored for the Sharks with 86 while Ben Stallworthy, coming off a century in last week’s semi-final, worked hard for his 39.
The brilliant Tharanga Lakshita dominated with the ball, taking 6/68.
PRELIMINARY FINALS
Reeves Shield
Upper Gully 3/206 (Beyer 116*, Colee 35*) d Eildon Park 202 (Pimm 60, Cosstick 62, Burley 6/58).
Decoite Shield
Johnson Park 235 (Stallworthy 39, D. Devenish 86, Lakishita 6/68, Bogar 3/31) d FTG Footballers 112 (Nash 5/47, DeSilva 3/32)
GRAND FINALS
Division 3
Knox Gardens 207 (O’Connor 81, Cole 4/15) d Ferntree Gully 193 (Richardson 71, Sharp 54, Mulder 4/44, Vernon 3/40).
Division 4
Lysterfield 213 (Conroy 55, Wright 3/72, Simm 3/47) d Johnson Park 50 (Slaughter 8/35).
Divsion 5
Lysterfield 127 (Neill 63, Deveson 4/20, Hawkes 3/28) and 4/57 d Knox Gardens 113.
Division 6
Upper Gully 219 d Knox Gardens 180.
Division 7 – Hills
Monbulk 2/183 (Utting 96*) d Upwey Tecoma 9/180 (Wood 39).
Division 7 – Flats
Rowville 3/170 (Guest 79, Van Eck 33, Neven 32*) d Knoxfield 169 (Burley 40, Williams 32*, Bakkar 3/32).
B1 – One Day Grade
Pool A
Knox City 1 7/171 (Clue 45) d Lysterfield 9/74 (Robinson 3/17, Curtis 3/15).
Pool B
Knox City 2 7/225 (Styles 52, O’Brien 47) d Knox Boronia Churches 90 (O’Brien 3/16, Whichello 3/18)T
