By Tyler Lewis
The two runaway sides of the District competition have entered finals in supreme touch.
Ladder leaders Officer finished off its mighty home and away season with a crushing win over fellow finals contenders, Upper Beaconsfield.
The Bullants sent the Maroons in and were met with no trepidation when it came to collecting steady wickets.
Courtesy of Leigh Boyle (5-1-2-18) and Cooper Pursell (7.4-2-3-18), the Bullants had the Maroons 3/12, 4/46 then 5/70.
Despite five successive batters reaching double figures for the Maroons, none really threatened to take the game away from the Officer unit.
While the two openers did the damage up front, Ash Smith was also impressive with the ball, capturing 3/17 in what ultimately proved to be the most perfect of all-round performances.
Upper Beaconsfield was always going to struggle to defend its 133 unless it took early wickets.
The Maroons did just that in the early stages of the innings, with Chad McDonald sending Bullants opener Nick McLennan back fifth ball, before blowing Jack James’ front pad off for nought.
Despite being 2/3 and on the back-foot, it was all smooth sailing from there for the Ants, with Ryan Clark (52 from 87) and Smith (53 from 88) combining for a match-saving – and realistically home-final-saving – partnership.
McDonald was tremendous with the ball, his figures of 2/8 off four are all the more impressive when considering he bowled three extras.
The side neck and neck with Officer, Devon Meadows, has also stormed into finals, with a sizzling with over Emerald.
The Bombers set a competitive total of 7/150 from its 40 overs, with skipper Owen Thorne really playing a lone hand, with 76 not out.
Lucas Carroll (4/11 off four) was the pick of the bowlers for the Panthers, claiming four of the seven wickets.
The Panthers were 2/22 in reply, before Trent Delaney (70 not out off 98 balls) and Ben Hussey (40 not out off 46 balls) guided the home side to victory.
It’s clear Delaney un-wrapped the gift of form on Christmas day, as the Panthers number three has made 288 runs at 48 with four half-centuries since the holidays.
A Rajitha Ranaweera unbeaten century cemented Pakenham Upper Toomuc’s chances of a home elimination final this weekend.
Astonishingly, it’s the openers third unbeaten ton for the year.
This specific knock off 100 not out came off just 130 balls, but only included seven fours and one six.
Ranaweera has now compiled 614 runs at 68.22 and has taken a particular liking to Lang Lang; against the Swamp Tigers this year, the Yabby has nudged 121 not out, 45 and 100 not out, in the three outings against them.
The Yabbies needed to defeat Lang Lang to ensure it held third position on the ladder over Upper Beaconsfield and it did so comfortably, after Ranaweera’s knock guided his side to 3/224.
The Yabbies defended the total comfortably, holding the Swamp Tigers to 7/161.
In the first round of finals, the two clear favorites, Officer and Devon Meadows, will face off for a place in the grand final, while the elimination final is a battle of the Upper’s, with Pakenham Upper Toomuc playing host to Upper Beaconsfield.
SEMI-FINAL FIXTURE
Officer v Devon Meadows Officer Recreation Reserve 1pm
Pakenham Upper Toomuc v Upper Beaconsfield Harry Blackman Oval 1pm
