Cricket round-up: Queenscliff push Ocean Grove out of top four

THE penultimate round of the BPCA season has left six teams still in the fight for finals cricket.

Queenscliff’s 15-run victory over Ocean Grove saw Queenscliff jump up to third on the table, despite having spent the majority of the season out of the top four.

Contrastingly, Ocean Grove tumble out of finals contention for the first time since the early weeks of the season.

With the game being the only one that got under way in damp conditions last week, Ocean Grove started the week knowing they needed 272 for victory.

They had a challenging start to their innings, falling to 3/29 early on.

Half-centuries by Isaac Saunders and Matthew Caulfield revived their chances, were not enough to save the game.

Jan Juc secured their sixth consecutive win with an 85-run win over Barwon Heads.

Iva Priest has been a significant part of their return to form, having taken at least one wicket in all his previous eight games.

He produced another excellent performance, taking 3/12 in his eight overs.

Barwon Heads subsequently managed just 9/122 in response to Jan Juc’s 6/207.

Barwon Heads now sit fourth, only above Ocean Grove on percentage.

Still undefeated this season, Anglesea looked momentarily fallible against Barrabool, as their two openers fell without scoring.

However, Dale Kerr came in at three and blasted 119 off 116 deliveries to help Anglesea reach a total of 8/193.

Kade Eskrigge then ensured Anglesea’s total was safe, taking 6/38 to help bowl Barrabool out for 118.

Elsewhere, half-centuries by Ben Ricardo and Nathan Walter saw Collendina ease to a seven-wicket victory over Portarlington.

In Division 1 of the GCA, Leopold made a promising start in the first week of two-day matches.

They bowled Murgheboluc out for 146, with Adam Bliss taking 4/31.

However, things could have been better for Leopold, as they had Murgheboluc 8/60 at one stage.

Torquay are in a similarly commanding position against Manifold Heights, having bowled the bottom-placed team out for 123.

Final hopefuls Modewarre have a difficult task ahead of them. They will need to be near their best next week to chase down Highton’s total of 8/311.