Cricket finals - three teams out

SOUTHERN CRICKET ASSOCIATION
Finals Week 1

WITH the first round of the SCA finals now completed, only one of the four local teams remain in contention. New Norfolk I, Gretna I and Bushy Park have all bowed out of season 2015/16. Bothwell I lost its match as well, but remains in the mix as they had the double chance.

FIRST GRADE
Elimination Final
New Norfolk I went down to St Anne's by six wickets at Cadbury No 1. Winning the toss and batting first, the Red Caps were bowled out for the modest total of 10/134 off 37.3 overs. Opener John Ferguson batted very well, finding the gaps and boundary on six occasions to a well made 39. Captain Dave Maddox made 22 (three fours) and Joe McCulloch made 20 (three fours). At number 10, Josh Walsh made a handy 18 (three fours). In reply the Crows had little trouble in the run chase and reached 136 for the loss of just four wickets off 24 overs. Joe McCulloch did well taking 2-26 off seven overs. John Ferguson 1-13 (3) and Graeme Rowlands tried hard 1-30 (6). New Norfolk now bows out of the finals race, but can hold its head high as it has made a big improvement from eighth place last season.

SECOND GRADE
Elimination Final
In a do or die match at Gretna on Saturday, Gretna I went down to Montagu Bay by seven wickets. After winning the toss, Gretna had first knock and didn't get off to a good start. At one stage it was 3/18. The home side recovered a little, but was bowled out for 107 off 34.3 overs. Captain Ben Rainbird made use of his good form, scoring 37 with five fours. Bruce Emery chipped in with 28 (two fours) and Peter Jelkic 18 runs ( four fours). In reply, Montagu Bay lost a wicket in the first ball of its innings, but soon recovered and chased down the runs from 27.5 overs, finishing 3/110. Corey Ransley bowled well again and was unlucky not to have more wickets finished with 1/24 off nine overs.  Craig Cunningham did well 1-6 (3) and Aaron Maddox tried hard finishing with 1-40 (9). Gretna looked the goods going into the finals, but it just wasn't to be. Congratulations to Peter Jelkic on playing his 150th game for Gretna I and also to Aaron Maddox on playing his 100th for Gretna I.

THIRD GRADE
Elimination Final
Playing at the Bushy Park Showground, St Anne's turned the tables from the previous week and defeated Bushy Park by four wickets. St Anne's 6/100 off 22 overs defeated Bushy Park 10/99 off 33.1 overs. No other details were unavailable at the time of writing and Bushy Park now exits the finals for 2015/16.

FOURTH GRADE
Qualifying Final
Favourites Bothwell I went down to Bagdad by four wickets. Playing at home, the Bucks won the toss and had first knock but unlike recent weeks they were bowled out for 101 off 39 overs. Trent Rogers was the only batsman to get a start, making 25. The only other to make double figures was Joey Eyles with 11. Their were 22 extras. In reply, Bagdad lost six wickets in the run chase and at one stage was 5/40 but recovered to finish 6/102 off 36.2 overs. Nathan White was the leading bowler for Bothwell taking 3-22 off 10 overs. Matthew Eyles 2-22 (7) and Trent Rogers 1-19 (8). Despite the loss, Bothwell survives to play another week.