MANDURANG is on track to steal fourth position and a berth in the Emu Valley cricket finals from Spring Gully after dominating the Crows on Saturday.
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The Crows will need to cross their fingers and hope for rain, extreme heat, snow or a locust plague (it has threatened local cricket before) next Saturday for day two to be abandoned – or a miracle bowling performance – if they are to hold off the Rangas from replacing them in the top four.
In what’s a match to decide the last finals berth, the Crows capitulated after being sent in, all out for 130.
And it would have been much worse had it not been for a fighting 57 n.o. from No.9 James Fox.
The Crows’ innings featured four ducks and another three players dismissed for five or less in what was a disastrous performance given what’s at stake.
For the third time in the Rangas’ past five games Clinton Botham (5-38) took a five-wicket haul, including the first three of the innings.
James Pietromonaco (4-30) continued his outstanding season, with all four of his scalps unassisted.
Mandurang went to stumps at 2-119 and needing just 12 more runs for victory.
• United posted 8-240 against Sedgwick in the clash of first versus third.
For the third innings in a row United’s Alex Collins (65) passed 50 to be the best of the Tigers’ batsmen.
With his unbeaten 19 as part of an unbroken 53-run stand with Seb Greene (40 n.o.), Andrew Duguid lifted his season average to 84.
Jordan Ilsely (3-57), Jakson Webb (2-26) and Andrew Sheehan (2-62) were multiple wicket-takers for the Rams, while skipper Rick Ladson had a good day in the field with three catches.
• Captain Leon Beatty and Alex Gorrie both made half-centuries as Maiden Gully compiled 221 against Golden Gully.
Beatty passed 50 for the fourth time this season in cracking 68 (seven fours), while Gorrie made 52.
The Gully had been 5-212 before its last five wickets fell for just nine runs.
Kansas Varker (3-47) and Bradley Smith (3-50) picked up three wickets each for the Cobras.
• In the game that will decide the wooden spoon, Emu Creek has 214 on the board to defend against Marong.
However, the Emus have already got two wickets, with the Panthers reaching stumps in early strife at 2-15.
Earlier, opener Daniel Chamberlain was the best of the Emus’ batsmen with 57.
Having one stage been 5-213, the Emus lost 5-1 to be all out in the 66th over.
Six Marong bowlers took a wicket, with Jeremy Ross (3-21), who took a hat-trick to finish the innings, and Ben Woodward (3-25) claiming three each.
