A Bulls, Tigers final

By Kane Latham
BEACONSFIELD and Cardinia – the top two teams – are through to the 2010-11 grand final of the West Gippsland Cricket Association’s Premier Division.
But they could count themselves lucky as their opponents, Tooradin and Kooweerup respectively, had the Tigers and the Bulls on the ropes when rained forced an early end to the semis.
At Perc Allison Reserve, Tooradin won the toss and batted against first-placed finishers, Beaconsfield.
Tooradin got off to a flyer, thanks to Mat Walker, who took to the attack, before he was dismissed for 29 with the score on 32. Tooradin then looked shaky, losing another three wickets for 25 runs, until Aaron Avery joined Cal O’Hare at the crease.
Working hard Avery and O’Hare combined in a 103-run partnership but soon after O’Hare brought up his half century, he was dismissed by Jason Dodd for 50 runs. Avery continued on with Ash Adams, hitting the ball hard, but when Adams was dismissed for 16 Tooradin was 6/184, and Beaconsfield had its tails up.
Brad Sauer joined Avery and they combined for a 48-run partnership to take the score to 232, before Sauer was dismissed for 28. Avery was dismissed eventually lbw to Cam Henry, for a brilliant 97 runs, painfully short of his century.
Tooradin was all out in the 79th over for 261 runs, a big finals score, leaving it in the box seat for Sunday’s play.
Cam Henry continued his good form with the ball, taking 5/73 from 24.5 overs, while Jason Dodd was consistent as usual, taking 3/78 from 22 overs.
With a big task ahead, Beaconsfield got off to a solid start, reaching 27 runs before Wayne Staniforth was dismissed. Justin Stanton and Brad Miles took the score to 62 before Stanton was removed for 32 runs.
Soon after, the dangerous Brad Miles was dismissed for 22 runs and, with the score on 92, Luke Sibley was caught behind off Steve Hamill.
Kris Fletcher and Ryan O’Connor then worked hard to steady the ship, taking the score to 4/101 at tea. After tea, Tooradin bowled just four balls at Beaconsfield before bad light stopped play and then the rain came, saving Beaconsfield from a precarious position.
Steve Hamill had bowled well for Tooradin, taking 1/16 from 10.4 overs, while Ash Adams picked up 2/32 from eight overs.
The rain was a disappointing way to finish what was sure to be an exciting game.
At Cardinia, Kooweerup won the toss and batted first in perfect conditions. Chris O’Hara was lucky with a life in the first over courtesy of Luke Turner, and he made the most of it.
He and Mick Giles took the score to 58 before Giles was dismissed for 41 runs. O’Hara stayed strong as Kooweerup lost three quick wickets, slumping from 1/58 to 4/100.
O’Hara then fell for 50 runs, with the score at 119, and when Leigh Patterson went with the score still at 119, Kooweerup looked shaky at 6/119.
Small contributions from Matt Davey (13), Matt Bright (11), Paul Bright (13n.o.) and Jon Bright (17) took Kooweerup’s score to a competitive 175 from 77 overs.
For Cardinia, Dwayne Doig did what he does best, bowling unchanged from one end for 6/66 from 38 overs, while Neil Barfuss and Dean Henwood picked up two wickets each.
On Sunday Kooweerup put the pressure straight on to Cardinia. John Nooy was run out in the first over, Steve Patterson caught behind just one run later, Mark Cooper fell to the same fate soon after as did Neil Barfuss, and suddenly the score was 4/23, Kooweerup well and truly on top.
Dwayne Doig joined Ben Darose at the crease and they took the score to 70 before Doig was dismissed for 24 runs. When the rain came, Cardinia was in serious trouble at 5/81 from 38 overs with Ben Darose 28 not out.
It was a disappointing way to finish a game that Kooweerup was well in control of.