SEDGWICK warmed up for the Emu Valley Cricket Association finals by ending United’s eight-game winning streak on Saturday.
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While the final margin was a 69-run victory for the Rams, that wasn’t a reflection of how hard Sedgwick had to work to overhaul United’s 8-240 at Club Court.
With gun batsman Matt Dwyer (156) in full flight, the Rams looked to be cruising to victory at 4-216.
However, Dwyer’s dismissal for 156 sparked a collapse in which the Rams lost 4-2 – two wickets each to Kieran Nihill and Andrew Duguid (2-34) – to fall to 8-218 and the momentum was back with the Tigers.
But with the game threatening to slip away, Lucas Baldwin (56) and Scott McKenzie (32 n.o.) halted the flow of wickets and guided the Rams to victory and a final score of 9-309 declared.
Dwyer’s 156 was his second century of the season, while he ended the home and away rounds as the competition’s leading run-scorer with 728 at an average of 72.8.
With his 4-55 off 21 overs, Nihill topped the EVCA’s wickets tally for the season with 33, as well as finishing No.1 on the Addy’s MVP rankings with 1019 points.
• Mandurang replaced Spring Gully in fourth spot after finishing off its good work from day one.
Resuming at 2-119 in reply to the Crows’ 130 and playing on the repaired Spring Gully pitch after it had been vandalised during the week, the Rangas finished at 208, with Matt Pask (84) top-scoring.
In an attempt for a reverse outright win that would allow them to keep their spot in the top four, the Crows then pummeled a quickfire 4-191 declared off 19 overs in their second innings, featuring 98 from Joel Bish, before sending the Rangas back in.
The Rangas ended the day 5-101 and now have a semi-final against United at Ewing Park to focus on.
• Marong avoided the wooden spoon and instead handed it to Emu Creek.
On the back of 88 from captain Scott Ross, the Panthers successfully chased down Emu Creek’s 214.
Starting the day at a shaky 2-15, the Panthers reached 8-218 to end their season with a third win.
The key partnership of the innings was the 71 Scott Ross and Jeremy Ross (34) put on the the seventh wicket after the Panthers had been 6-127.
• Three Golden Gully batsmen made half-centuries in a solid batting performance against Maiden Gully.
The Cobras amassed 4-238 in response to the Gully’s 221.
Captain Clint Prime (72), who re-discovered some much-needed form on the eve of the finals, Jeremy Rogerson (71) and Nathan Hamblin (55 n.o.) were all in good touch for the Cobras, who will now host Sedgwick in the 2 v 3 semi-final.
