Cricket round-up: Ocean Grove on brink of reaching finals

THE top four of the BPCA looks set to change heading into the final week of the regular season, as teams scramble for a place in the finals in the second week of two-day matches.

Queenscliff, Barwon Heads, Ocean Grove and Barrabool all still have a chance to make the semi-finals.

Despite sitting outside the final’s spots in fifth, Ocean Grove appear the side best placed of the four sides to reach the finals.

They are facing Barrabool, who are sixth albeit with a better percentage than any of the four teams competing for finals spots.

However, after Barrabool’s opening-batsmen managed a hard fought 50-run partnership, they capitulated to 126 all out, with Ocean Grove then finishing 0/23.

Ocean Grove Cricket Club president Johnnie Giuffrida said it had been an up and down season for the team.

“We had a good start to the season and then through injuries and unavailability’s we lost our last four in a row. But it’s one of those things with club cricket.

“But we look like we might make it, and if we do make it all we can do is put our best foot forward and you never know.”

Ocean Grove are guaranteed a final spot if either of Barwon Heads or Queenscliff fail to win their games.

Barwon Heads are well placed for victory having finished 8/230 against seventh-placed Collendina.

If Queenscliff win it may then come down to percentage to see who between Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove progresses.

However, if Queenscliff win, they will also become the first team all season to defeat Anglesea.

Anglesea finished their innings 8/231.

Ned Cooper’s 70 helped revived his side after they were 3/19 early on.

Lee Edmonds’ unbeaten 64 at the end than helped ensure the table-toppers enter next week in a commanding position.

Jan Juc have already claimed victory against Portarlington.

Four wickets to both Iva Priest and Nick Smith saw Portarlington fall for 114.

Cameron Chisholm scored most of Portarlington’s runs, eventually being dismissed on 61.

Jan Juc then took just 20 over to chase the total down and earn a five-wicket victory.

As the penultimate round of the GCA concludes, it is highly unlikely any Surf Coast teams will feature in the finals.

It was nevertheless a good weekend for Torquay, as Ash Russell blazed an unbeaten century to defeat Manifold Heights.