sport, local-sport, evca, emu, valley, cricket, emu creek, into, finals, just
MORE CRICKET - Kingower celebrates grand final success against Bridgewater MORE CRICKET - Jets soar into finals; Roos knocked out of top four at last hurdle A GRIPPING four-run victory over Spring Gully has sealed a finals berth for Emu Creek in the Emu Valley Cricket Association. And in doing so Maiden Gully has been denied a top-four finish by just two points following Saturday's final day of the home and away season. The Emus certainly earned their finals berth given they had to beat the ladder-leading Spring Gully on the Crows' home ground to finish fourth. With 186 on the board against a side that had been averaging a score of 291, the Emus' tally just proved enough after bowling the Crows out for 182 - the result meaning the two will face off again in a semi-final next weekend. The Emus' finals push looked like it could be thwarted late when the Crows were 8-182 and needing just five runs to win. However, with their season on the line the Emus took 2-0 as, firstly, skipper Todd Brown (3-44) ran out Liam Pilcher (3), and then Anthony Collins (4-54) trapped Nick Skeen (0) lbw to send Emu Creek into the finals. The Crows, whose loss was just their second of the season, were beaten despite 46 n.o. from Thomas Perrin. * Mandurang captain James Pietromonaco has produced one of the EVCA's great all-round performances in his side's win over Axe Creek. Having bagged 7-42 with the ball on day one, Pietromonaco backed it up with an unbeaten 100 as the Rangas answered the Cowboys' 156 with 5-245 declared. Pietromonaco's innings was full of lusty hitting - he faced just 78 balls and 86 of his runs came through fours (11) and sixes (seven). As well as Pietromionaco's ton, the Rangas also had Matt Pask (54) make his fourth half-century from just five hits this season. The defeat brought the curtain down on Axe Creek's first season back in division one, with the Cowboys claiming the wooden spoon. * Maiden Gully thumped West Bendigo, but couldn't claim the outright points it needed to climb back into the top four and knock Emu Creek out. Defending 6-311 the Lions bowled West Bendigo out for 134 and then enforced the follow on to make a last-ditch push for the finals. However, the Redbacks finished at 4-74 as the Lions were forced to settle for fifth - the same as last year. Maiden Gully's Brett Haw (3-32) and skipper Alex Gorrie (3-42), who made a century last week, both picked up three wickets in the Redbacks' first innings, while Brodie Pearce (2-7 off seven) also bowled well. West Bendigo veteran Travis O'Connell's scores of 21 in the first innings and 49 n.o. in the second took him to the top of the EVCA runs for the season with 549. * The United trio of Broderick Williams (85), skipper Harry Whittle (65) and Mac Whittle (59) all scored half-centuries in the Tigers' run feast against Marong. The Tigers answered Marong's 7-192 with 9-368 to tune up for their semi-final against Sedgwick with a 176-run drubbing of the Panthers. All 11 players bowled for Marong, including wicket-keeper Scott Ross, who took 1-10 to accompany his four stumpings - two each off Greg Toomey (4-85) and Dean Cosgriff (3-51). * Sedgwick thrashed California Gully by 157 runs. The Cobras could muster just 96 - half of which were made by No.3 Shaun O'Shea (48 n.o.) - in reply to the Rams' 9-253. Sedgwick's Chris McCalman (3-1) took the first three wickets to fall as the Rams pounced early, while Jordan Ilsley's 3-24 gave him 47 scalps for the home and away season. Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.
A GRIPPING four-run victory over Spring Gully has sealed a finals berth for Emu Creek in the Emu Valley Cricket Association.
And in doing so Maiden Gully has been denied a top-four finish by just two points following Saturday's final day of the home and away season.
The Emus certainly earned their finals berth given they had to beat the ladder-leading Spring Gully on the Crows' home ground to finish fourth.
With 186 on the board against a side that had been averaging a score of 291, the Emus' tally just proved enough after bowling the Crows out for 182 - the result meaning the two will face off again in a semi-final next weekend.
The Emus' finals push looked like it could be thwarted late when the Crows were 8-182 and needing just five runs to win.
However, with their season on the line the Emus took 2-0 as, firstly, skipper Todd Brown (3-44) ran out Liam Pilcher (3), and then Anthony Collins (4-54) trapped Nick Skeen (0) lbw to send Emu Creek into the finals.
The Crows, whose loss was just their second of the season, were beaten despite 46 n.o. from Thomas Perrin.
* Mandurang captain James Pietromonaco has produced one of the EVCA's great all-round performances in his side's win over Axe Creek.
Having bagged 7-42 with the ball on day one, Pietromonaco backed it up with an unbeaten 100 as the Rangas answered the Cowboys' 156 with 5-245 declared.
Pietromonaco's innings was full of lusty hitting - he faced just 78 balls and 86 of his runs came through fours (11) and sixes (seven).
As well as Pietromionaco's ton, the Rangas also had Matt Pask (54) make his fourth half-century from just five hits this season.
The defeat brought the curtain down on Axe Creek's first season back in division one, with the Cowboys claiming the wooden spoon.
* Maiden Gully thumped West Bendigo, but couldn't claim the outright points it needed to climb back into the top four and knock Emu Creek out.
Defending 6-311 the Lions bowled West Bendigo out for 134 and then enforced the follow on to make a last-ditch push for the finals.
However, the Redbacks finished at 4-74 as the Lions were forced to settle for fifth - the same as last year.
+23
Pictures: NONI HYETT
MORE GALLERIES
Maiden Gully's Brett Haw (3-32) and skipper Alex Gorrie (3-42), who made a century last week, both picked up three wickets in the Redbacks' first innings, while Brodie Pearce (2-7 off seven) also bowled well.
West Bendigo veteran Travis O'Connell's scores of 21 in the first innings and 49 n.o. in the second took him to the top of the EVCA runs for the season with 549.
* The United trio of Broderick Williams (85), skipper Harry Whittle (65) and Mac Whittle (59) all scored half-centuries in the Tigers' run feast against Marong.
The Tigers answered Marong's 7-192 with 9-368 to tune up for their semi-final against Sedgwick with a 176-run drubbing of the Panthers.
All 11 players bowled for Marong, including wicket-keeper Scott Ross, who took 1-10 to accompany his four stumpings - two each off Greg Toomey (4-85) and Dean Cosgriff (3-51).
* Sedgwick thrashed California Gully by 157 runs.
The Cobras could muster just 96 - half of which were made by No.3 Shaun O'Shea (48 n.o.) - in reply to the Rams' 9-253.
Sedgwick's Chris McCalman (3-1) took the first three wickets to fall as the Rams pounced early, while Jordan Ilsley's 3-24 gave him 47 scalps for the home and away season.
TOP CLUB PERFORMERS
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.
