Hill too steep for Gators

By Steve Brown
MOUNTAIN Gate returned to the rest of the field after failing to chase an unrealistic score of 323 set the previous week by top side Rowville, to complete round six of the Knox Tavern Cup.
Constant rain on Friday did nothing to aid the batting team, and bowlers were still required to bowl in the right areas as did Feaver Medallist Darren Hill who was rewarded with 5/12 after returning from injury.
The Gators were dismissed for only 86 runs. Newcomers Ferntree Gully (242) set a seven/two field all day against Johnson Park with opening bowlers Matthew Black and Mark Butters leading a disciplined attack and with off stump bowling the Sharks were all out for 129.
So tight was the Gully’s bowling, that at one stage they had one fieldsman on the leg side, and when Samaraweera was brilliantly caught behind by Moss and Jon Wilson run out result of a direct hit from Sasso, the game was all but over.
Upper Gully’s batsmen let their bowlers down when they failed to haul in Lysterfield’s modest 152, having the Kings bundled out for 113 with no player getting a start. In the absence of Chris Hill, Tim Emmett stepped up taking 3/19 in a big win for the home side.
Knoxfield was five wickets down passing St Johns Tecoma’s score of 140. The Knights batted out the full day to reach 302 thanks to Jasen Lindsay (51) and talented former Heathmont all-rounder Ben Morris (93). For the Saints, Marc Hardy returned 3/73 from his 32 overs.
Upwey still holds the wood over The Basin in recent encounters with a decisive victory at the ‘dome. Half centuries to Paul Henry, Dain Howe and Shane Richardson saw the Tigers win by 100 runs.
In the final game, Belgrave (3/256) outclassed Knox Gardens to obtain outright points and their first win of the season. Scott Vozzo and Ben Carnell were the stars with the bat for last year’s finalists while Nick Bole-Brown took 10 wickets for the match.
The young Falcons line-up will need to place a higher price on their wickets next match.
Upset of the round in Decoite Shield saw Footballers without skipper Peter Tahin, defeat leaders South Belgrave by 23 runs with Logan Johns snaring four wickets.
Eildon Park overpowered The Basin aided by some good bowling from Aaron Powell 6/20. Johnson Park’s Mark Dinon smashed 70 from 41 balls to help his team defeat Ferntree Gully.
Upper Gully won a thriller by four runs over last season’s runners up Upwey with Justin Roberts amongst the runs with 69 and Monbulk easily accounted for Lysterfield.