The inaugural Coalfields Cup has an exciting finish coming up, with eight out of the 10 teams still a mathematical chance of making the semi-finals.
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The penultimate round of the competition once again produced some exciting finishes, with two of the matches going down to the final over.
Wine Country snuck back into the top four with a final ball one-wicket victory over PCH at Allandale Oval.
PCH batted first and posted a modest 7-158 from their 40 overs, with Danuel Bell leading the way with 34. He was well backed up by Andrew Winsor (28), Abraham Jones (26) and Jake Daniels (18no).
Ben Wood (3-35 off 10) and Hudson Smith (2-40 off 10) kept a lid on things for Wine Country.
In an exciting finish the home side required seven to win from the final over.
With the scores locked after five balls, Brendan Briedenhann (38no) cleared the gutter for a memorable win, which sees the Wood Ducks move back into the top four. A win over JPC next week will ensure a semi-final berth.
Sam Peacock (35), Josh Dwyer (28), skipper Andrew Fensom (19) and Rob Sidebottom (14) were the other main contributors for Wine Country.
Jake Daniels (3-30 off 10), Barton Jones (3-33 off 10) and skipper Daniel Oldknow (2-33 off 10) took the wickets for PCH.
Greta/Branxton snuck home with one ball to spare and four wickets in hand against cellar dwellars JPC in a high scoring affair at Miller Park.
Yet to register a win in the competition, JPC went about resurrecting this by blasting 8-238 in the reduced 37 over game. Wicket-keeper Matt Parish led the way with 67, with skipper Alex Thrift clearing the fence regularly in his 60 off just 32 balls. Ash Borg (36), Greg Thrift (24) and Shane Givney (18) were also productive.
Brent Watson (3-65 off 10) and Darren Thomson (2-50 off 10) were Greta/Branxton's best with the four-piece.
The Blues stayed in control throughout the run chase, requiring seven to win from the final over. Watson remained composed and cleared the fence at mid-wicket from the first delivery to lock things up, then after three consecutive dot balls blasted one past mid-off for a boundary to secure victory and third place on the ladder.
Watson's unbeaten 54 came from just 29 balls, with skipper Joey Butler returning to form with 50. Darren Thomson (46) and Greg Andrews (24) controlled the middle portion of the innings, with Cliff Newling (19no) playing a vital role at the death.
Veteran Greg Thrift was the pick of the JPC attack with 2-36 off 10 with his in-swingers.
Creeks' disappointing campaign continued as they were trounced by eight wickets by the Piranhas at Howe Park. Batting first the home side were skittled for just 51.
Ben Read ripped through the Creeks line-up to finish with 7-9 off 3.5 for the Piranhas.
The Piranhas completed the formality in the 12th over after losing two wickets, with openers Matt Brodie (29no) and Daniel Russell (18) getting the job done.
If the Piranhas can upset Greta/Branxton next week and other results go their way they can finish as high as third.
Mulbring inflicted Valley's first defeat with a nine-wicket thrashing at Mulbring Oval. Valley was dismissed for just 73, with skipper Jacob Carey the only shining light with 48 in a batting card that featured six ducks.
Mulbring's Ben Neaves was back to his destructive best with 4-25 off 7, with skipper Cameron Ross (3-10 off 5) and Sam Apthorpe (2-3 off 1.3) bowling tidily.
The Marlins reached the target in the 21st over having lost just the one wicket, with Drew Olsen (40no) and Jason Varoxis (30no) timing the ball nicely.
Mulbring can still make the semi finals with a win over Glendon and hope other results fall their way.
The final game between Glendon and Bellbird at Cook 3 was abandoned due to rain. The competition leading Tigers were in a spot of bother at 9-120 after 29 overs when the match was brought to a halt.
Tom Stacy was Glendon's best with the ball, bagging 4-37 off 8.
Bellbird can wrap up the minor premiership and put PCH to bed with a win when the two heavyweights clash at Carmichael Park this week. Meanwhile if Glendon can upset Mulbring at Mulbring they can finish in the top four providing other results go their way.
SECOND GRADE
Chelmsford Hotel 10/152 (Hayden Yates 41, Arron Follan 27, Rob Follan 16no, Luke Jeans 5-27 off 9.4, Allan Heath 2-27 off 10) defeated Wine Country 10/125 (Jayden O'Connor 38, Jack Sims 32, Ethan Ellis 20, Hayden Ridley 5-31 off 7.4).
Greta/Branxton 9/121 (Andrew Wright 39, Blake Kellett 26, Jason Varley 16, Anthony Brunsdon 14, Lachlan Marino 3-32 off 7, Pat Cagney 3-19 off 3.3, Nathan Davey 2-30 off 9) defeated Bellbird 10/120 (Lachlan Marino 43, Matt Tomlinson 24, Dylan Stoker 17, Anthony Brunsdon 4-26 off 7, Mark Peace 3-30 off 8, Brett Bridge 3-23 off 8.4).
Piranhas bye.
THIRD GRADE
Greta/Branxton 10/129 (Adam Kerry 49, Jamie McNamara 27, Cory Stephenson 15, Wayne Harris 3-35 off 10, Eain Harris 3-14 off 7.5, Stephen Hedger 2-24 off 7, Harrison Webb 2-13 off 4) defeated Wine Country Blue 10/86 (Stephen Hedger 21, Zach Ellis 16, Jamie McNamara 3-8 off 6, Cory Stephenson 2-26 off 4, Noah McNamara 2-14 off 6).
Piranhas 5/195 (Heath Walker 84, Mick James 31, Chris O'Neill 27no, Scott Price 26, Shane Morley 17no, Jesse Ballenden 4-37 off 10) defeated Wine Country White 9/189 (Jesse Ballenden 41no, Lewis Howells 41, Ty Cowley 39, Kaiden Howson 22, Scott Purser 16, Brett Hindmarsh 4-34 off 10, Karandeep Maramreddy 4-43 off 9).
Bellbird 9/179 (Shannon Attewell 57, Daniel Attewell 34no, Paul Lynch 25, Aaron Duffie 15, Shane Sheridan 14, Willie Watson 3-49 off 10, Branden Lord 3-28 off 8) defeated Mulbring 8/151 (Matt Gough 31, Trenten Mascord 27, Jeff Carr 24, Branden Lord 20no, Rob Young 15, Stef Durie 5-6 off 10, Chris Fairlie 2-43 off 6).
FOURTH GRADE
Greta/Branxton Blue 2/125 (Doug Engel 53, Daniel McCann 35, Zac Watkins 15no, Matt Kemp 2-21 off 3) defeated Piranhas 10/121 (Steve Russell 36, Craig Beer 29, Craig Benson 18, Ricky Hollis 17, Zach MacBeth 5-44 off 9, Adam Woodcroft 2-13 off 3).
Bellbird Maroon 1/50 (Graham Stoker 29no, Ben Rowlands 19no, Mitch Fallon 1-22 off 5) defeated Greta/Branxton White 10/47 (Steve Wilkinson 13, Dan Field 4-12 off 6.2, Daniel Orr 4-11 off 6).
Bellbird White 4/140 (Robert Jordan 62no, Steve Bedford 28, Sudalaimuthu Shunmugasundaram 23, Scott Minter 2-25 off 5, Nev Taylor 2-43 off 4) defeated Supporters 10/129 (Scott Minter 64, Jamie Butt 22, Steve Bedford 5-22 off 8, Dave Delaney 3-13 off 5).
Wine Country 5/61 (Jason McMichael 39no, Jordan Jackson-Tilley 2-19 off 5, Andrew Collins 2-11 off 4) defeated Cessnock Hotel 10/55 (John Crowe 16, Joey Sweeney 11, H. Murray 5-15 off 6, Dominic Peacock 2-24 off 5).
Chelmsford Hotel bye.
POINTS TABLES
Coalfields Cup: Bellbird 33, Valley 33, Greta/Branxton 30, Wine Country 27, Piranhas 24, PCH 24, Glendon 24, Mulbring 21, Creeks 15, JPC 9.
First Grade: Bellbird 22, Wine Country 18, Greta/Branxton 17, Mulbring 14, Piranhas 11.
Second Grade: Chelmsford Hotel 40*, Wine Country 32**, Bellbird 31*, Greta/Branxton 28**, Piranhas 19**. * byes received, 0 points allocated.
Third Grade: Wine Country White 43, Piranhas 40, Bellbird 39, Wine Country Blue 34, Greta/Branxton 32, Mulbring 32.
Fourth Grade: Bellbird Maroon 43, Chelmsford Hotel 43*, Bellbird White 39*, Greta/Branxton Blue 38*, Cessnock Hotel 35*, Wine Country 32*, Piranhas 24*, Supporters 23*, Greta/Branxton White 20*. * byes received, 0 points allocated.
Club Championship: Bellbird 347.20, Wine Country 320.60, Greta/Branxton 288.40, Piranhas 216.30.
Club Championship Formula: First Grade x 7, Second Grade x 3.5, Third Grade x 1.4, Fourth Grade x 0.7. NB: Games between two CDCA first grade teams count towards the first grade points Table and club championship, whereas the Coalfields Cup points table is scored Differently. The team with the higher total points in grades where clubs have more than one team Will contribute to the club championship.