By Ian Harley
THE completion of round five of the FTGDCA’s Knox Tavern cup competition saw two games decided in the last over of the day.
At Eildon Park the Panthers clawed their way past Johnson Park with captain Josh Dowling leading the run chase with 58.
Cody Morris (33) and Damien Hart with 37 in the final scramble saw Eildon Park home and moving into contention for a top four spot.
Johnson Park will walk away ruing what could have been, sitting with two wins from five games.
At Ferntree Gully Monbulk captain Aaron Walter nearly masterminded the theft of six points from the reigning premiers.
The Blues were well in control at tea having the Hawks 4/76 of 44 overs, but with the strong pairing of Walters and Jason Fraser at the crease Monbulk made its move. Off-spinner Andrew Field bowled 30 overs for a depleted blues line-up in a marathon effort that kept the pressure on Monbulk.
Needing seven an over with 30 overs left, Fraser skied a shot and was dismissed for 40. From there Walters took control managing 96 before being dismissed lbw.
His efforts saw Monbulk needing 14 off the last over with Weeraman and Wright at the crease and Ryan Handley with the ball in hand.
Handley managed to contain the pair to 11 off the over to see the Blues win by three runs, making it five wins from five games.
Upwey managed to keep its perfect record intact at the Dome despite some wobbles on the way.
Chasing Knox Gardens’ 217 the Tigers were 6/90 before they consolidated, losing another three wickets on their way to 259.
Steve Gannell made a well-compiled 83, with other contributions coming from Sam Waters (35) and ex-Victorian bowler Paul Wilson (35 not out) seeing Upwey safely home.
The Basin made light work of chasing down St Johns Tecoma’s 138.
Skipper Steve Elworthy set the tone punching the third ball of his innings crisply through the field for four.
Elworthy was dismissed for 72 but it was Country Week stalwart Danny “R. S.” Rundle with 102 not out that top-scored for the Huntsmen as they closed their innings at 6/222 just after tea.
The Basin and St Johns Tecoma both now have one win each and will need to make the most of any advantage to steer clear of relegation.
Rowville made sure Lysterfield were never in the hunt dismissing the Beavers for 157 in pursuit of its 265 set last week. Craig Arnell grabbed four wickets for the Hawks.
Upper Ferntree Gully made 346 against Belgrave, but was obviously keeping a lid on it with no scores sent through to highlight performances.
In De Coite Shield games Footballers batted the day out to make 372 in reply to South Belgrave’s 92.
Matt Hepburn made 112 as the Griffins gave their full line-up time at the crease. Mountain Gate defended 119 against Knoxfield, dismissing the Knights for 79, Bailey and Wimilaratna did the damage for Mountain Gate with Knoxfield loosing 7/23 before Mountain Gate finished the day on 8/164.
Auravale dismissed Knox for 177 to take the points.
KNOX TAVERN CUP
Eildon Park 8/260 (J. Dowling 58, D. Hart 37*, C. Morris 33) d Johnson Park 254 (B. Grant 80, P. Dunlop 41, A. Burgess 31, C. Cosstick 5/53, S. Pimm 3/46)
Ferntree Gully 7/253 d Monbulk 8/251 (A. Walter 96, J. Fraser 40, R. Handley 3/54)
The Basin 6/222 (Elworthy 72, Rundle 102*) d St Johns Tecoma 138
Rowville 9/265 d Lysterfield 157 ( C. Arnell 4/28, Daniel 3/53)
Upwey Tecoma 9/259 (S. Gannell 83, S. Waters 35, P. Wilson 36*, M. Young 3/39, A. Wild 3/66) d Knox Gardens 10/217
Upper Ferntree Gully 346 d Belgrave 141
DE COITE SHIELD
FTG Footballers 372 (M. Hepburn 112, C. Brittan 68, R. Bedford 40, L. Leathem 38, H. McDermott 3/36, L.Doorakkers 3/114) d South Belgrave 92
Aura Vale 209 d Knox 177 (A. Percy 40, D. Williams 32, M. Moroney 41, A. Jenner 3/47, B. Emerson 3/33)
Mountain Gate 119 and 8/164 (B. Neilson 61, I. Tua 36, S. McKenzie 5/73) d Knoxfield 79 (A. Bailey 4/23, A. Wimalaratna 3/16)
DIVISION 3
Ferntree Gully 298 d Monbulk 234 (B. Hicken 61, C. Heppell 65, D. Glare 5/48)
The Basin 8/243 (Blanguiro 37, Davis 37, Clemens 50*, Clacy 4/39) d St Johns Tecoma 234
Rowville 139 d Lysterfield 123 ( Dalgleish 3/42)
Upwey Tecoma 6/181 (Michael Hewitt 56, R. Marshall 42, T. Mulder 3/31) d Knox Gardens 175
Johnson Park 314 (M. Sim 138, S. Langenberg 43*) d Eildon Park 242 (C. Trotter 58, M. Porter 50, J. Tate 44, S. Langenberg 5/67)
DIVISION 4
FTG Footballers 5/310 (T. Gale 78, T. Richardson 93, L. Storey 33, A. Gale 47*) d South Belgrave
Knoxfield 6/201 (B. Fredericks 55, N. Sando 77) d Mountain Gate 154
Knox 153 (C. Menke 68, H. Morgan 4/54) d Aura Vale 52 (J. Norden 7/20, P. Graffen 3/17) and 64 (G. Knight 3/9)
DIVISION 5
Johnson Park 9/358 (D. Maclachlan 143, T. Whilesmith 124, B. Martin 5/49, C. Martin 3/73) d Monbulk 121 (B. Martin 38, L. Sebo 4/26, P. Kallista 3/26)
Ferntree Gully 5/342 (C. Moss 167, M. Reed 102*) d Knox Gardens 190 (Webb 52, Morrison 59)
Eildon Park 192 ( D. Lerm 36, C. Davern 3/40) d Upwey Tecoma 93 ( J. Evans 45, A. Bronsgeest 4/34, F. Femia 3/19) and 95 (C. Cutts 4/14, F. Femia 3/23)
Rowville 243 d Lysterfield 179 (Donellan 45, Lapthorn 39, Logan 3/49)
The Basin 9/260 (D. Brodtmann 108, M. Wallace 57, C. James 30*, A. Larcombe 4/86, M. Stewart 4/62) d Knoxfield 221 (Harris 45, Faulkner 64, Balfour 35, Brodtmann 3/47).
