By Justin Schwarze
Due to an Extreme Fire Safety Rating in the Central Region of Victoria, play was abandoned in round 13 of the Casey Cardinia Cricket Association’s lower grades on Saturday.
As the calendar turns to March, the schedule turns to the final round of the home and away season, with finals on the brink.
The A Grade table is just about cemented for the post-season, with Cardinia well on its way to the minor premiership.
The Bulls, at a bare minimum, have secured a home semi-final and face fifth-placed Clyde in the final fixture, with the Cougars unable to qualify for finals.
As seen on the first day of round 13, Cardinia has one of the best bowling line ups across all of the CCCA, spearheaded by Ryan Little who has now tallied over 40 wickets this season.
Barring any outright results, Tooradin will also host a semi-final in two weeks’ time, and conclude their regular season with a good test against fourth-placed Pakenham.
The Seagulls have performed strongly with the bat, scoring the most runs out of any team in the league, with teammates Luke Adams and Shane Tongue first and second in the league-runs title race.
The pair will be hoping to get Lion Steve Insall out early, as he sits in third, trailing Adams by just five runs.
Third place Kooweerup looks to enter the finals with momentum as they visit sixth-placed Devon Meadows.
Finally, bottom of the table Merinda Park searches to end the season on a high as the Cobras’ quest for a second win will get underway on Saturday against second bottom Cranbourne Meadows.
Tips: Clyde (5) v CARDINIA (1), Devon Meadows (6) v KOOWEERUP (3), TOORADIN (2) v Pakenham (4), CRANBOURNE MEADOWS (7) v Merinda Park (8)
B Grade is in for a treat with a matchup of first versus second headlining the final action.
Pakenham Upper Toomuc will welcome Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll to Harry Blackman Oval as the Yabbies look to ensure they’ll be back there the following round for a home semi-final.
Pakenham will pay a visit to Tooradin with the last finals spot well and truly up for grabs.
Both teams sit on 78 points, marking the matchup as the most crucial one of the season for both clubs.
Anthony Ponweera will look to continue his impressive season with the bat in hand for the Lions, but he’ll be hunted by league-leading wicket taker Luke Townsend and the dangerous Tim Huguenin.
The drama doesn’t end there with Emerald also on 78 points, but the Bombers would need a massive result against third-placed Officer to see them into the postseason due to tiebreakers.
The final matchup sees Upper Beaconsfield host Clyde.
B Grade Tips: Pakenham Upper Toomuc (2) v NAR NAR GOON-MARYKNOLL (1), TOORADIN (5) v Pakenham (4), OFFICER (3) v Emerald (6), UPPER BEACONSFIELD (8) v Clyde (7)
Officer need results in their favour to reach the finals in C Grade, requiring a win against top-placed Carlisle Park and Melbourne Sixers to knock off Kerala Strikers.
League leading run scorer Jimmy Augustine will look to guide his team at the crease and into the post-season against high wicket takers Shamendra Kannangara and Nisitha Ginigalgodage.
Elsewhere, Cardinia takes on Devon Meadows and Merinda Park faces second placed Kooweerup.
Tips: Kerala Strikers (4) v MELBOURNE SIXERS (3), DEVON MEADOWS (6) v Cardinia (8), Officer (5) v CARLISLE PARK (1), Merinda Park (7) v KOOWEERUP (2)
With the top four set in D Grade, the finals teams will see each other this week.
Not much cricket was played at all in round 13, with some teams not seeing a ball bowled in the entirety of the round.
Pakenham looks to stay firmly on top of the ladder with Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll visiting.
Ryan Tocknell can secure the league wicket title for the Marygoons, currently sitting on 28.
However, Pakenham Upper Toomuc bowler Addison Tucker might have something to say about that with him also sitting on 28 as his side prepares to play fourth-placed Kerala Strikers.
Kooweerup’s stunning batting line-up could prove too much for Merinda Park as the Demons search for a last-round victory.
Finally, the matchup of Emerald and Officer will decide who finishes sixth and seventh.
Tips: PAKENHAM UPPER TOOMUC (2) v Kerala Strikers (4), PAKENHAM (1) v Nar Nar Goon-Maryknoll (3), EMERALD (6) v Officer (7), KOOWEERUP (5) v Merinda Park (8)
Undefeated Cardinia looks to end Pakenham Upper Toomuc’s season in E Grade with star bowler Ray Perkins well over 30-plus wickets this season.
The matchup of Devon Meadows and Pakenham could be a foreshadowing for a semi-final clash, with the sides currently sitting second and third.
Other games in the final fixture include Officer hosting Clyde and Carlisle Park taking on Melbourne Sixers.
Tips: CARDINIA (1) v Pakenham Upper Toomuc (5), Carlisle Park (7) v MELBOURNE SIXERS (6), Officer (8) v CLYDE (4), Pakenham (3) v DEVON MEADOWS (2)
