Shattered Lions miss opportunity

DARLEY’S final four chances have been dashed by ladder leaders Mount Clear who chased down the Lions monster score of 342 with three wickets and 25 balls to spare.

Coach Nathan Yates could do little other than ‘cop it in on the chin’ in his post match address.

“We gave them a few chances in the field which was disappointing,” he said.

“But most of the bowlers bowled well on a wicket that provided very lttle after the first 10 overs.”

Mount Clear made the most of the favourable batting conditions with an emphatic response, dominated by star number three batsman Akshay Ballal who smashed 181 off 156 balls that included 16 fours and two sixes. Ballal came to the crease with the score at 1/52 and was the last man to be dismissed – the damage done at 7/329.

The Lions bowlers toiled manfully as the needle shifted too and fro in the likelihood of victory, and none more so when Mount Clear were 6/239. But a 90 run seven wicket stand for the hosts broke the Lions back as hope turned to despair for Yates’ Pride.

Despite the nature of a flat, hardened wicket complemented with a fast outfield, all honours must go with Mount Clear who validated their current standing at the top of the table. The belief the hosts would have gained from the performance, the reality of being capable of winning from anywhere has no ceiling moving forward to the pointy end of the season.

While Yates hasn’t given up hope of an unlikey finals berth for the LIons, the focus shifts to an all important last three (two day) games of the home and away season.

“A massive few weeks ahead for us as a group to work together and build for the future with the slimmest of finals chances to make the top four. ‘ Yates said.

BCA FIRST GRADE – (ROUND 11)

Darley 342, Overs 77.3. D.Chandima 89, N.Yates 76, S.Dissanayake 72, R.Hoey 56.

Mt Clear 7/345, Overs 75.5. S.Dissanayake 3/90.

Darley (now 7th) lost by 3 wickets..

BCA SECOND GRADE – (ROUND 11)

Darley 246, Overs 67.4. J.Murphy 66, J.Martindale 56.

Brown Hill 9/71, M.Ellis 5/13 & 8/52, Dan.Hynes 3/19.

Darley (now 2nd) WON by an innings and 123 runs..

BCA THIRD GRADE – (ROUND 11)

Darley 9/354, Overs 70. H.Hoey 77*, L.Bona 63, L.Woods 55.

VRI Delacombe 69, Overs 21.5. Z.Agius 5/28, L.Bona 4/28.

Darley (now 3rd) WON by 285 runs.

BCA FOURTH GRADE – (ROUND 12)

Darley 6/200, Overs 40. B.Densley 39, J.McKerrow 36, A.Berry 33*.

Ballarat-Redan 6/202, Overs 28.5. J.McKerrow 2/42.

Darley (now 8th) lost by 4 wickets.

BCA FIFTH GRADE – (ROUND 12)

Ballarat-Redan 7/260, Overs 40. S.Apostolidis 3/24, K.Beck 2/9.

Darley 118, Overs 27.2. A.Clarke 32, K.Semmens 18.

Darley (10th) lost by 142 runs.

GDCA – WOMEN’S FIRST XI

Lancefield Yellow vs Darley

Darley (1st) return February 2nd