**”Why didn’t we just play a one-dayer on Saturday instead?” One local CCCA supporter was really peeved on the weekend, comfortable in the knowledge that Sunday would be washed out due to rain. And we tend to agree. With the CCCA fixture split down the middle between one-day and two-day cricket, why wouldn’t you avoid a potential semi-final washout and play one-dayers on Saturday when the Sunday forecast was so bleak. As with anything like this, lower ranked teams will agree with this proposal, why teams ranked one and two will be more than happy with the way things currently stand; earning a direct passage to the big dance. Self-interest has always been, and will continue to be, the driving force behind decision making at most clubs.
**There were worrying moments for the CCCA executive last week with forecast rain for Sunday and an ‘Extreme’ Fire Danger Rating being shown on the Bureau of Meteorology website for Saturday. Thankfully the ‘Extreme’ Rating, which would cause all CCCA to be abandoned, was lowered to ‘High’ by the weekend, but the rain still got us in the end. Expect changes to be made to the CCCA’s Extreme Weather Policy during the off-season.
**It was not a good weekend for the Forsyth family, with brothers Brett, Cam and Mitch all sitting idle on Sunday as rain ruined their seasons. Brett, captain of Vic Premier club DANDENONG, was left shattered after the Panthers needed just three wickets on Sunday to defeat RICHMOND after a dominant day one, while Cam and Mitch would have been chasing HALLAM KALORA PARK’S imposing total of 7/359 for SPRINGVALE SOUTH in the DDCA Turf 1 preliminary final. It would have been a tough ask…but the Bloods were still well in with a chance.
**You had to feel for CARDINIA medium pacer Josh Grogan who appeared to dislocate his finger in the early stages of the semi-final against PAKENHAM on Saturday. Grogan was in a lot of pain, but returned to bowl three overs as the Bulls steamrolled the Lions for 133 on day one.
**What is it with the TOORADIN Cricket Club and broken bats this season? Star opener Cal O’Hare snapped his best blade late in 2024, while emerging talent Tyler Evans had to call for a replacement on the weekend after his handle appeared to break. Evans will be keen to get it fixed; having scored 233 runs at an average of 116.50 in his last four innings.
**The season of KOOWEERUP has abruptly come to an end, but there are still celebrations at Denhams Road after boom-recruit Shiran Rathnayake agreed to terms with the Demons for the 2025/26 season. The rumour mill is also working overtime; with the Demons also hoping to land a huge fish over the coming weeks.
**Rob Porter Reserve had a big weekend, as the digital scoreboard was blank for the District semi-final between OFFICER and CARLISLE PARK. The blackout was apparently caused by an electrical fault near the club’s canteen. The scoreboard is one of the ground’s best features, usually giving ball-by-ball updates, but the Bullants have been unsuccessfully trying to work it since earlier in the week. They’ll get another crack on the weekend, with the District grand final also set to be played at the ground.
**The scoreboard wasn’t the only thing that gave no vision, as the OFFICER sponsor car from Berwick MG had to be covered with a towel as it was parked on display in a spot that reflected sunlight into the batter’s eyes. Bullants bat Jack James was quick to point out the glare, and soon the windscreen with all the sponsor stickers had a towel thrown over it. Maybe MG will think of a new spot for next week’s big dance, as long as it’s safe from any big sixes.
**CARDINIA E Grade bowler Ray Perkins enjoyed an almost flawless season for the Bulls this year, taking an outstanding 40 wickets while scoring 275 runs at an average of over 45 with the bat. CARDINIA finished top of the ladder with only one loss, capping off a ridiculous season from an individual and team perspective. However, at this year’s CCCA awards presentation, it was revealed Perkins finished third in the league best-and-fairest, four votes behind winner Krishmin Roshen of MELBOURNE SIXERS and one vote behind Andrew Myers of CARLISLE PARK. To add to the surprising result, both Roshen and Myers were part of bottom four sides and missed the postseason.
**PAKENHAM UPPER TOOMUC skipper Brian Kulasena smacked a powerful boundary down the ground at Harry Blackman Oval, and it was assumed another ball would fall victim to the shrubbery and creek behind it once the ball cleared the fence. CRANBOURNE MEADOWS big man Mandhiraj Singh opted to go for a look, breaking branches and searching the bushland in quest of finding the game ball. A few minutes later, he emerged with a ball in hand, only for it to be an old ball, a former victim of the ground. At least the Yabbies got one back!
**With most of CCCA second day action rained out, the D Grade semi-final at Lakeside Oval between NAR NAR GOON-MARYKNOLL and PAKENHAM UPPER TOOMUC saw umpires decide to take to the field at 5:50pm on Sunday evening for just three overs. Due to the wet conditions, one Yabbies bowler hit the deck and suffered an ankle injury, ending the restart quickly. The Marygoons were chasing 93 with just over an hour left in the day, but the unsafe pitch meant PAKENHAM UPPER TOOMUC is now through to the grand final, despite the visitors not being thrilled with the result. In a swiftly deleted social media post, NAR NAR GOON-MARYKNOLL added insult to injury by posting the phrase “the Oscar goes to” in their final scoreline update.
