By Lachlan Mitchell
Melbourne’s typical wet and dreary weather was the main feature for the final round of Turf-2 cricket for the season.
Beaconsfield and Cranbourne – and Parkmore and Keysborough – were forced to share the points after grounds were deemed too wet for play to commence.
Dandenong West and Parkfield were one of only two matches to go ahead.
The Bulls had pride on the line as they looked to finish their season on a high.
The Bulls got the day off to a great start winning the toss and electing to bat. Nicholas Jeffery got himself primed for finals taking 4/25. Dandenong West struggled to gain any momentum losing wickets at regular intervals.
Anthony Brannan (31) was the only batter who could hold his head up high, as the rest of his fellow team-mates struggled to impact the scorecard.
The only positive on a grim day for the Bulls was that they avoided being bowled out finishing on 9/124 after their 45 overs.
Parkfield’s innings got off to a rocky start with opener Emmal Mayadunne falling for four, the Bears 1/7.
Dandenong West would have been in seventh heaven when Bradley Sheean then dismissed Riley Payne for one leaving the scorecard at 2/21.
The job was left up to Travis D’Souza (54) and Matthew Goodier (61) to reach the meagre total. The Bears reaching the target in 20 overs.
Lyndale have pulled an 11th-hour surprise, upsetting Heinz Southern District away from home.
The game was shortened to 25 overs after an early downpour saw the game delayed.
The Dales won the toss and sent Heinz into bat. The home-side struggled with the willow falling to 3/30. Farazur Rahman made the ball talk, taking 4/34 including snaring the wicket of both openers.
Heinz struggled with the bat through the middle-order with two run-outs exacerbating the problem. The home-side made 127 in the shortened fixture.
Lyndale started well with the openers putting on an opening stanza of 40. Priyan De Silva (46) top scored helping his side over the line by six wickets with nine balls to spare.
The loss still sees Heinz Southern District hold onto fourth spot. A washed-out Keysborough match saw the Knights finish just outside the finals spot.
Cranbourne has been one of the competition’s best all season long.
Peter Sweeney has been at his brilliant best with bat-and -ball and also picked up the Charles Gartside Medal adjudged best-player all season.
Parkfield have been looming as one of the most dangerous threats all season.
Their early season form should have seen them finish on-top. The Bears suffered a shock-loss to Dandenong West but have since recovered well.
The Pirates have seemed to be flying under the radar all-season and sewed up third spot without much stress. The Pirates dropped the last two games of the season, leaving them in an intriguing spot heading into their clash against Parkfield away from home.
