UPPER Beaconsfield Bgrade captain Scott Pitcher led his bowlers on a destroy mission against Pakenham on Saturday and into a semifinal berth this week.
The leading leg spinner in the WGCA blasted through the Lions batsmen and spun his team into a home final. Having declared the previous week at 9/277, it did not take long before Upper Beaconsfield made short work of Pakenham’s upper order, exposing the middle order.
At tea the Lions were 8/83, but then a runout and wickets from Glen Kilburn buried them completely.
Pitcher recorded another fivewicket haul (5/49), Aaron Gray (2/30) and Glen Kilburn (2/12).
The Maroons then asked the Lions to follow on.
In his best spell for the year, Marcus Gehling tore the best batting apart to record 6/37, supported by Daniel Brennan with 2/2. Only time saved Pakenham, which finished 8/65.
The Maroons face Nyora again at Upper Beaconsfield in the semifinal this week.
C GRADE
A numbers draw was used in a unique method of choosing the batting order for Upper Beaconsfield in its game against Lyndhurst Vikings at the weekend.
After an early setback this did not seem to have backfired, as Chris Curran raced to 23 before misjudging a fulltoss and skying a catch. Steve Finnerty played his best innings of the season reaching 36, Luke Sorati topscored with 37, Marty Oke 27 and Rob Hansen 22.
The Maroons managed 201 in 60 overs to highlight their dominance over the Vikings’ attack.
F GRADE
Playing Gembrook the Brookers belted 201 from 36 overs with Richard Edwards (2/20) while Stuart Black bowled tidily to pick up one wicket. In reply Upper Beaconsfield scored 120 with Edwards 61 notout and Stuart Black 13.
UNDER 13 MAROONS
The Maroons played Beacy Blitz and after setting a big score last week (9/196), were disciplined in their bowling and fielding.
Jake Cameron brilliantly held a sharp one handed catch in the slips to ensure a convincing win with Beacy Blitz being 9/119 at the end of its 40 overs. Best of the bowlers were T. Joyce (3/9), M. Buntine (2/5) and L. Bond (2/9).
UNDER 13 WHITE
Upper Beaconsfield completed its season with a great win over Nar Nar Goon White that batted first and made 8/138. Maroon bowlers Simon Prowse and Jye McManus took two wickets apiece. Chasing the target, Ben Amos and Jye McManus opened with a partnership of 27, before the middle order led by Toby Sherer (26), Josh Cahill (25 retired), Will Russell (18) and Matt Huston (18) led the side to a winning total of 6/147.
