Tight finish to GCA1 runs, wickets race

AS the GCA1 finals race tightens, so too does the run-scoring and wicket-taking battle with just one round to play.

St Peters’ captain-coach Luke Ford now sits atop the runs leaderboard with 654 from his 11 innings.

Ford has made three tons this season, with his top score an unbeaten 129-run effort in their recent win over South Barwon.

He is also amid a purple match to finish the year, scoring 411 runs from his last four innings.

Vishesh Malhotra (Lara) sits 48 runs behind Ford after leading for most of the year, but is well capable of jumping back into first should he fire in his final match.

Malhotra started the season hot, making a whopping 209 in his first innings, and has produced four other knocks with at least 60 runs.

The race for the most wickets remains tight, with just five splitting first and fifth.

Lara’s Luke Wilson sits first with 27 wicket thanks to a recent haul of seven against Newtown & Chilwell.

Wilson has had a consistent season to date, having had eight matches with at least two wickets.

One wicket behind Wilson is East Belmont’ Jack Jenkins, who has also enjoyed a consistent campaign. Jenkins has just one match without a wicket to date.

GCA1 RUNS LEADERBOARD:

Luke Ford (St Peters) – 654 (93.43 avg.)

Vishesh Malhotra – 606 (60.6 avg.)

Luke Inglis (East Belmont) – 568 (71 avg.)

Shane McNamara (East Belmont) – 544 (49.45 avg.)

Andrew Casey (St Joseph’s) – 510 (46.36 avg.)

GCA1 WICKETS LEADERBOARD:

Luke Wilson (Lara) – 27

Jack Jenkins (East Belmont) – 26

Sam Coutts (Grovedale) – 25

Kaden Marum (Lara) – 23

James Stokes (St Peters) – 22

Austin Humphrey (St Joseph’s) – 22