Southern cricket - round 12

SOUTHERN CRICKET ASSOCIATION
Round 12

THIS week's round of the Southern Cricket Association saw some interesting results with some teams keeping their finals ambitions alive, while others weren't so lucky. There were some fine individual efforts including four five-wicket hauls, four four-wicket hauls and five scores over 50. A highlight of the round was Stewart Rice's  4-1 off just 1.4 overs. In all, it was a big round of cricket.

FIRST GRADE
New Norfolk I kept its finals dream alive with a good win over Rokeby at Clarendon Vale. Set 144 for victory, the Red Caps easily chased down the target with the loss of just three wickets, giving the team four wins in as many weeks and five in total this season. New Norfolk is now only one point away from making the top five. The win was set up through some excellent bowling from Stewart Rice who finished with the remarkable figures of 4-1 off just 1.4 overs. Aaron Drew took 3-49 off his 10 overs while Josh Dykes picked up two and Nathan Eiszele one. With the bat it was captain Jason Rigby with 60 not out. His timely innings consisted of 10 fours and a six. Seb Wishart was also very good with the willow with 46no with four fours and one six. The pair put on 90 for the fourth wicket to seal the match off just 34.2 overs. Earlier, Harry Booth made 19 (three fours).

SECOND GRADE
Molesworth I remained on top of the ladder after its 39-run win over Wellington. Travelling to Eady St, Molesworth had first hit and made 10/185 off 46.3 overs. Captain Jamie Adams led from the front with a well-timed 68. Adams hit eight fours and a six during his stay at the crease. Nick Piuselli gave good support with 32 (one four, two sixes) and opener Josh Ransley did his bit with 30 (three fours).
In reply, Wellington was dismissed for 146 off 40 overs. Brayden Hodge took 5-41 off 10 overs in an excellent spell of bowling. Josh Ransley 2-11 (4) and Daniel Coppleman 2-23 (7) did well and Brad Coppleman finished with 1-25 (8).

Playing at home, Gretna I kept its finals aspirations alive with a good six-wicket win over Old Beach. Four wickets from the spin of Todd Jarvis and a 117-run stand from openers Ben Rainbird and Glenn Blackwell set up Gretna's victory.  After being sent into bat, Old Beach made 8/198 off its allotted 50 overs. Todd Jarvis did well with the ball capturing 4-34 (5) and fellow spinner Ben Rainbird took 2-24 (10) while Corey Ransley took 1-48 (10). In reply, Gretna finished 4/204 off 35.1 overs. Ben Rainbird top-scored with 66 (four fours, two sixes) and Glenn Blackwell was equally as good making 53 (three fours, two sixes). Todd Jarvis 17no (one six) and Rhys Browning 14no (one four) put on 34 to seal the win. Gretna is now just out side the top four with two matches remaining.

FOURTH GRADE
A great all-round effort from Josh Walsh helped New Norfolk II kept its place at the top of the ladder with a 98-run win over St Virgil's at Tynwald Park. After being sent into bat, the Red Caps made 9/171 off 50 overs. Captain Chris Ashcroft top-scored with a well-made 39 (four fours). Nathan Rice made a handy 23 with one six. But from then it was the Josh Walsh show. Batting at number nine, Walsh made 37 hitting four fours and two sixes in a great display. Then with the ball, Walsh sent down 10 overs for the excellent t figures of 4-13. Jamie Hill showed great support taking 3/19 off four overs in a fine short spell. Cody Morgan-Coleman continues to take wickets and finished with good figures of 2-14 (6) and Todd Rusher 1-16 (6).

Gretna II travelled to Bothwell where it kept in touch with the top four with a two-wicket win over Bothwell I. The Bucks had first knock and made 10/153 off 44 overs. Nathan White top-scored with 32 and Joey Eyles was just behind with 30. Captain Cody Eyles made 23 and Brock Nichols 18. For Gretna, Luke Crosswell bowled well sending down nine overs and  taking 4/36 (9). Jake Campbell, captain Jackson Ackerly and Zac Crosswell all took two wickets each. In reply, Gretna got over the line with two wickets to spare finishing 8/155 off 46.1 overs. At number three, Zac Crosswell set the win up with a very good 59 that included five well-struck fours and a six. Openers Luke Wheeler 20 (four fours) and Jordan Hastie 18 (two fours) put on 35. But at the end, Joey Hack came out of retirement and made a valuable 20no (two fours) in what was his 399th match since 1977-78. Mathew Perotti showed great fight. Matthew Eyles was the best of the Bothwell bowlers with 2-18 (10). Brick Nichols took 2-25 (8), Nathan White 2-43 and Mathew Glover tight finished with 1-10 (4).

A five-wicket haul from Troy Smith helped Bushy Park stay in contact with the top four with a four-wicket win over Derwent at Cambridge Oval on Saturday. Derwent had first hit and was all out for 84 off 40 overs. Allrounder Troy Smith put on a great performance with the ball, capturing 5-19 off 10 overs. Nathan Grant took 1-17 (7), Nicholas Fenton 1-8 (6) and Geoff Crosswell 1-1 (1). In reply, Bushy Park chasing the bonus points got the small target finishing 6/87 off 14.3 overs. Nathan Grant top-scored with 25, Mitch Crosswell 18 and Troy Smith made 13.

SIXTH GRADE
After their first win last week, Molesworth I lost to Bagdad at Boyer Oval by 115 runs. Molesworth won the toss and sent Bagdad in to make the good score of 10/204 off 47.4 overs (48 extras). In just his fourth match of the season, Zane Lester took 5-26 off 6.4 overs in a good spell of bowling. Nathan Triffitt captured 2-12 (3) and Jake Sorrenson 1-13 (5) also tried hard. In reply, Molesworth was all out after 33.1 overs for 89. Captain Jack Evans top-scoring with 25 (two fours) and Brad Jarvis 16 (two fours).

SEVENTH GRADE
Third-placed New Norfolk II went down to top-placed St Anne's by 137 runs at Cadburys No.2. The home side batted first and made the good score of 10/248 off just 36.4 overs. Like many others in Round 12, David Mitchelmore took five wickets. Sending down 8.4 overs Mitchelmore finished with 5-48. Liam Kalbfell 2-34 (6) was the next best. In reply, New Norfolk was all out for 111 off off 25 overs. Brendan Skelly top-scored with 34 (six fours, one six). Opener David Mitchelmore had a good match making 24 (four fours). Mitch Rice made 15 (two fours).

EIGHTH GRADE
Bothwell played Derwent at Shoobridge Park. No results were available at the time of writing.