By Richard Millot
Seven teams entered the final round of the Norm Reeves Shield season with the hopes of playing finals.
Minor premiers The Basin showed no signs of slowing down, defeating Knoxfield for their 11th win of the season.
The Bears lost just one wicket while cruising to victory with a final score of 1/152
Knoxfield’s loss increased the significance of the match between Ferntree Gully Footballers and Eildon Park with the winner receiving the double chance finals matchup against The Basin.
The Panthers ended play at 8/209. The Griffens response was stifled by early wickets as the Panthers held them to 4/24 in the early proceedings. The Griffens lower order steadied their performance for the day but ultimately could only muster 8/157 as a reply.
The Bears will now host the Panthers in a home qualifying final.
As the Griffens ended their season on 42 points, this left the door open for Upwey, who had the simple finals equation of ‘win and be in’. While their opponents Johnson Park needed a win and a significant percentage boost in order to advance through to finals.
Upwey’s Quinten Wells lead the way with 47 runs supported well from Julian Whetstone with 35 to get the Tigers to 169 as Coby Law claimed 4/28 for the Sharks. Steve Devenish answered the call of the Sharks, his 50 leading the way to a last-round win to finish 5/170. Despite the win, Johnson Park misses out on playing finals on percentage, finishing seventh on 42 points.
Knox Gardens’ finals aspirations also involved the requirement to win and gain percentage, with the Falcons playing host to Ferntree Gully. Batting first, the Falcons hit 7/190 from their overs with Joe Morsello reaching 54, despite Jake Evans claiming 3/36 for the Blues.
Ferntree Gully required one run per ball in the final ten overs setting up an exciting end to the season. A runout in the final over with just 4 runs required for victory left the Blues at 187.
Despite the win, the Falcons came up short on knocking the Griffens out of fourth place, missing out by 0.07%.
Knoxfield will play the Ferntree Gully Footballers in an Elimination Final.
PROVISIONAL LADDER – NORM REEVES SHIELD
The Basin – 66pts, 1.87%
Eildon Park – 48pts, 1.23%
Knoxfield – 48pts, 1.13%
Ferntree Gully Footballers – 42pts, 1.35%
Knox Gardens – 42pts, 1.28%
Upwey – 42pts, 1.00%
Johnson Park – 42pts, 0.91%
Belgrave – 12pts, 0.68%
Upper Ferntree Gully – 12pts, 0.61%
Ferntree Gully – 6pts, 0.60%
