By David Nagel
Emerald will look to put its name forward as a potential finalist when the Bombers welcome Carlisle Park to Chandler Reserve in a new-look CCCA District Division on Saturday.
Only seven teams remain in the second tier of CCCA cricket after a battling Melbourne Sixers were allowed to forfeit the remainder of its season.
The Sixers were struggling to fill their commitments to the District competition with CCCA President Ben Knowles made aware of their plight in the early rounds of the season.
Knowles gave the Sixers until the completion of round seven to either pull the pin or keep playing, with the Sixers deciding to end their time in District as a consequence.
They forfeited their round eight clash against NNG/Maryknoll prior to Christmas…meaning all seven remaining clubs will bank winning points when scheduled to play the Sixers in the second half of the season.
Outrights wins over the Sixers by NNG/Maryknoll (R4), Pakenham Upper/Toomuc (R5) and Officer (R7) have been adjusted by the CCCA; with those wins now worth 12 points instead of the maximum 20.
An in-form Pakenham Upper/Toomuc has the bye this Saturday while the Bombers and Vikings battle it out in the big one.
Carlisle Park will go in as favourites this week after piecing together some fine form prior to the break.
The Vikings most recent win against Cranbourne Meadows was undoubtedly their best win of the season, with Ben Perry, Dave Nutting and Kasun Balasuriya delivering with the bat after Perry, Jaan Balasuriya and Ethan Davies had ripped the Rebels to pieces with the ball.
The Balasuriya boys have led the way for the Vikings this season, while Perry looms large with finals just around the corner.
But first the Vikings need to get there, and defeating the Bombers on Saturday will go a long way towards reaching that target.
The batting of the Bombers has fallen away in recent times with no player making a 50 since Michael Hoban (61) and Owen Thorne (54) did so all the way back in round five.
Club stalwart Clinton Marsh top-scored with 22 not out, batting at legs-eleven last start, and you can’t win games of cricket like that.
It’s the Vikings to extend their margin in fourth place on the ladder.
In other games this week, Cranbourne Meadows should reclaim second place with a strong win at home over Lang Lang, while top-of-the-table Officer will look to put a dent in Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll’s finals chances at Rob Porter Reserve.
The Marygoons batted well against the Bullants in round five, making an even 300, but then failed to make inroads as Chathura Imbulagoda (150), Kuldeep Sidhu (55) and Ash Smith (43) guided Officer (9/398) to victory.
The round five contest did not end on friendly terms, with Marygoon’s bowler Troy Ferguson deciding to Mankad Bullants’ number-10 Devon Gabriel-Brown.
Officer skipper Cooper Pursell (72 not out) and number-11 Dan Irvine (8 not out) then made the Marygoon’s pay…batting on for the full 80 overs despite having secured the victory.
A fired-up and switched on Officer will win again.
TIPS – ROUND 9: CRANBOURNE MEADOWS v Lang Lang, Emerald v CARLISLE PARK, OFFICER v NNG/Maryknoll Bye: Pakenham Upper/Toomuc.
