Huntsmen triumph

By Iain Harley
THE Basin chased down Johnson Park’s 6/347 racking up 6/380 to take the points in an amazing form reversal in Round 9 of the FTGDCA.
Adam Heath provided the backbone for the Huntsmen compiling 136 with Glen Bunker (87) and Adam Luckman (56) also chipping in.
Their chase would have to rate as one of the best in recent years reminiscent of the Basin of old. This will be a blow for the Sharks who will need to rebound in next week’s top of the table clash with Ferntree Gully.
Lysterfield finally awoke from their slumber knocking off Belgrave outright in an extraordinary day’s cricket.
The Beavers set Belgrave 227 for victory last week and they soon had the finals contenders reeling, all out in their first innings at tea.
Not content with that they enforced the follow-on and crashed through the line-up claiming the final wicket of Nick Bole-Brown, caught at bat pad off the bowling of Chris Hill in the final over of the day. Scott Buckingham finished with 8 wickets in the match.
Upwey fell short by 34 runs against Ferntree Gully despite a century to hard hitting batsmen Dain Howe.
Howe, while batting with Paul McCarrick (57), had the Tigers throwing out a serious challenge to the ladder leaders; however, when their wickets fell so did any hope of victory and a finals berth. The Blues bowlers Graham Salan and Brett McIntyre came out on top.
St Johns Tecoma had a good win over Mountain Gate at Talaskia Reserve. Despite the best efforts of the Gators’ Clint Buckland (71), Marc Hardy and Danny Pearce bowled the Saints to victory, putting them 1 game out of the four.
Rowville pipped Knoxfield by 46 runs in their game dismissing the Knights for 212. Craig Arnell was the best-performed bowler for the Hawks.
Upper Ferntree Gully only managed 122 in reply to Eildon Park’s score of 231 last week.
In the Decoite Shield, Monbulk had a resounding outright win over Knoxfield and Footballers took the points over Auravale with Carey taking eight wickets.
South Belgrave, Upwey and Knox Gardens had good wins and Johnson Park made it home in a close one against the Basin thanks to Romei’s undefeated 81.