Lions finals tilt over

TODD WHELAN

DARLEY’S First XI will miss the 2023/24 finals series, after an agonising five-run loss to Naps-Sebas at the weekend.

While both sides endured periods of momentum, it was visiting bowler Sajith Dissanayake who proved the difference, with BCA season best figures of 9/69.

Lions coach and opener Dilon Chandima (43) was the only batsman not to be dismissed by the cagey right-armer, when he was tragically run out with the hosts seemingly in control at 1/66.

Five Lions batsmen made encouraging starts into double figures, before another Dissanayake breakthrough took a further stranglehold on defending the run chase.

Chandima, Ethan Thewma 41(53), Lachie Herring 32(90), and lower order dasher Madushanka Ekanayake 32(70) all looked comfortable for lengthy periods, despite the slow nature of the run rate that went shy of 2.4 runs per over.

When you break it all down, the Lions will be rueing their inability to rotate the strike, allowing the visitors to send down a whopping 18 maidens and whatever ‘pressure build’ that comes with it.

Unfortunately for the Lions, a fourth season loss at home from six completed matches has been the catalyst derailing any ambition of a finals campaign, as the (once) fortress of more recent seasons that is Darley Park, took another blow to its ailing levels of intimidation.

The Lions will aim to go out on a high in their final hit-out of the 23/24 season when they host second placed Golden Point over a two-day fixture beginning on Saturday.

All support welcome, full bar facilities available from 1pm.

Darley’s 2nd XI consolidated third placing on the BCA table with a comfortable six wicket win over North Ballarat. Needing 201 runs for victory the Lions were led by Bradly Barnes 121*(95) and Rockey Hoey 63(91) who put on a match winning, game saving 187 runs for the third wicket having met at the crease with the score and run chase on the rocks at 2/1.

BCA FIRST GRADE – (ROUND 13 – Day 2)

Naps-Sebas 186, Overs 76.2. H.Wickramasinghe 4/40, Dan.Hynes 3/32.

Darley 181, Overs 76.4. D.Chandima 43, E.Thewma 41.

Darley (now 6th) lost by 5 runs.

BCA SECOND GRADE – (ROUND 13 – Day 2)

North Ballarat 8/200, Overs 80. G.Martindale 3/21, L.Bona 3/38.

Darley 4/201, Overs 36. B.Barnes 121*(95), R.Hoey 63.

Darley (now 3rd) won by 6 wickets.

BCA THIRD GRADE – (ROUND 13 – Day 2)

Lucas 9/271, Overs 68. Z.Aguis 5/55 (24 ov) , M.Singh 3/71 (18 ov)

Darley 89, Overs 68.2. L.Woods 34, M.Singh 17.

Darley (now 9^th) lost by 182 runs.