A grade

Phillip Island has won an absolute thriller against Wonthaggi Workmens in their one-day game played at Cowes last Saturday.
Needing 10 runs to win off the final over of the day, Island paceman Simon Kirton was trusted with the final six deliveries of the game.
After conceding a wide on his first delivery, Kirton claimed a crucial wicket off his second legal delivery which had the crowd on the edge of their seats.
The game was turned on its head as the second last delivery was punished over cover for a boundary which left the visitors needing four runs to win off the final ball.
As everyone held their breath, Kirton skittled the stumps and the Island had won a quality game of country cricket.
Earlier in the day, Island skipper Max Royal won the toss and chose to bat and not long into the Island innings, Royal must’ve been regretting that decision when his side were reeling at 3-14. Shiran Rathnayake (24) and Jarrod Black (40) began the recovery mission for the home side, and while Rathnayake departed the scene at 4-40, Black was joined by Henry Shawcross (31) who played a little cameo to take the momentum away from Wonthaggi.
There were important contributions from Jona Watts (18), Charith Keerthsinghe (13) and Kirton (11) with Black the anchor in ensuring the Island posted a very competitive 9-167 off their 40 overs.
It didn’t take long before the Island claimed their first wicket courtesy of Kirton but that’s where the joy ended for the Sharks until well after the drinks break.
The visitors were cruising at 1-68 off 20 overs, and with 9 wickets still in the shed, the Island needed a lot to go right to get back into the contest.
Tight bowling from Clint Wilson (1-25), Keerthsinge (0-33) and Rathnayake (0-25) ensured the run rate kept rising to over a run a ball.
With the score on 78, Wilson made the all-important breakthrough, however, the visitors were well and truly on track with their gun bat still at the crease and making things look easy.
A couple of dropped catches didn’t help the Sharks but Kirton (3-34) broke through for a key wicket and with great support from Royal (1-44), the visitors still needed 16 runs to win off the last 2 overs.
Enter captain Royal.
The next six deliveries only went for six runs which really set the miracle win up for the Sharks. The rest is history!
The win puts the Island a game clear in fourth spot coming into the final round where the Sharks will travel to Leongatha Football Oval to take on Nerrena.
A win will secure a semi-final berth.

B grade

Unfortunately, Covid restrictions led to the cancellation of Cricket Statewide on Saturday February 13. Thankfully LDCA B grade cricket resumed for round 14 with the top 4 already locked in (OMK, Nerrena, Club and Phillip Island). 
Koonwarra hosted Phillip Island at the verdant, picturesque Koonwarra Recreation Reserve.
After winning his first coin toss in four months, B grade Captain Steve McIntyre elected to bat.
At drinks, Phillip Island were in a strong position at 1/83 (20 overs). McIntyre and Hornsby were the standouts of the top order with 66 and 24 respectively.
Koonwarra fought back hard to eventually bowl the Island out for 169 in the 40th over.
A critical 32 from B grade linchpin Geoff Odgers helped the visitors post a competitive total.
Thanks to tight bowling from openers Niven and Wright, Koonwarra found themselves on the back foot at 2/10 early.
Skipper McIntyre was plucking miraculous catches left right and centre, as he often does.
The Island appeared to have the game under control at several stages during the run chase without been able to close out the result.
Koonwarra wicket-keeper/batsman Brad Anderson continued to fight hard with the bat for the hosts. B grade leading wicket taker (Liam Dayson) made his stamp on the contest by taking 3/18 (8 overs).
At the conclusion of the 39th over, the result was in the balance with Koonwarra at 7/160 chasing 170 for victory.
Koonwarra were unable to find the boundary in the last over due to outstanding clutch bowling from Odgers.
The Island held on to win the game by three runs.
Phillip Island will host ladder leaders Nerrena at Cowes next week, in what has shaped up to be a finals preview.
Man of the Match- Steve McIntyre.
Phillip Island 169 (39.5 overs): McIntyre 66, Odgers 32, Hornsby 24, defeated Koonwarra 7/166 (40 overs): Dayson 3/18/8, Niven 1/19/8, Wright 1/23/8, Tolley 1/56/8.

C Grade

C2 headed to Bass on Saturday chasing a win to consolidate a position in the top two with one home and away game remaining.
Stand in captain Peter Francis lost the toss and Bass elected to bat first.
The ground was very slow with very thick grass and there have been some low scores there in recent weeks.
Darcy’s Excell and Johnston opened the bowling and did a fantastic job restricting the Bass openers to 9 runs off the first 11 over.
Darcy Johnston picked up two wickets, smashing the off stump to pieces with one of them.
In the finish they conceded just 17 runs off their 15 overs and got the Island off to a great start.
Bass got a wriggle on and had reached 56 in the 23rd over and were on their way to posting a sizable score.
Peter Francis came into the attack and had Lemon brilliantly caught with a diving catch by Darcy Johnston on the mid-wicket boundary.
That was the beginning of the end for Bass. Steve Burchell bowled a tight spell of 6 overs for 8 runs and Francis ended up with 2 for 9 off his 8 overs.
Bowling honours went to Tarryn Allan, who picked up 4 wickets for 6 runs off his 6 overs, being on a hat trick twice. Bass finished on 8 for 75 after their 40 overs.
Whilst this seemed like an easy total to chase the slow ground and tight bowling from Bass soon had Phillip Island in trouble.
Gav Excell and Darcy Johnston both departed with the score on 8, and when Muscat, Kenter and Peppard were all out by the time the score was on 34, things were getting a bit tense.
Peter Francis and Steve Burchall had a slow but steadying 18 run partnership, but Francis was bowled for 8 with 24 runs still required.
James Lewis joined Steve and these two batted brilliantly to see Phillip Island over the line with two overs to spare.
Steve made a patient 23 not out and James finished on 13 not out.
The game finished with Phillip Island on 6 for 80 after 38 overs.
Man of the match honours were shared between Tarryn with his 4 wickets for 6 runs and Steve with his vital 23 not out.

Under 14s

The U14 Sharks played their first semi-final against Leongatha Town.
The Sharks won the toss and elected to bat first. Ollie Duggan and Connor Macmillan opened the batting and looked steady early before Ollie hit a catch straight to the fielder and was caught for 5.
George McCausland and Connor Macmillan went slow and steady and finished the innings 1/40.
Town openers looked to run tight singles before they ran one too many as Jake Hughes took out middle stump with an awesome throw.
Thomas Macmillan took another wicket, Sam Bennett struck soon after leaving Town 3/28.
Just before the innings break, Harry Arceo took the set batters wicket, leaving Town 4/50 at lunch.
Connor Macmillan and George McCausland pushed the run rate up before Connor hit one to the fielder and was caught on 27. Thomas Macmillan received a great ball which bowled him for 0, the score was 3/65 at the time. Sam Bennett went out and hit a very quick 5 runs before getting bowled.
Drew Fusinato and George escalated the run rate and had a handy 34 run partnership before Drew was bowled for 5. George got caught off a top edge for 35. Jake, Justin, and Xavier finished the innings off leaving the Sharks at 8/114.
The Sharks started off strong in their bowling getting wicket after wicket and eventually got town all out for 81.
Thomas Macmillan took 3 wickets, Harry Arceo and Sam Bennett both took two as well. The Sharks won and will play Inverloch in the Grand Final next week.

Under 12s

This week the blue baby Sharks made the trek to Wonthaggi in our last away game for the year.
It was a warm afternoon and the ground looked in great condition.
Our very talented skipper for the week was Ryan Hughes, his pre match speech was short and sharp but still had the boys up and about and ready to go, Ryan won the toss and elected to bowl.
Opening the attack this week was our Gun spinner Arch Williams.
It seemed to many that the opposition may have had a couple of older lads to make up the numbers as they made runs with easy early. To our boys credit they kept their heads high and restricted the remaining batsman to minimal runs.
It seemed to be an even spread of good bowling by our boys this week and once again some great fielding by Ethan Tilly, Kobe Vanberlo, Zack Hughes and Jye Larcombe to round out our 20 overs.
Our opening batsman Ryan Hughes and Bud Marshall took all deliveries in their stride early as did our next pair in Sonny Williams and Jax Marshall who endured the best of the Wonthaggi bowlers but never gave up and should be very proud of the way they went about it.
A real highlight in the batting this week was from our last pair in Cub Cantwell and Arch Williams, they had the task of making runs that were needed and they gave it their all from the first delivery. Fours were hit with ease and there running between the wickets was as good as we have seen this season.
All in all, the boys tried their hearts out and we were all very proud of them. Our final game of the year is at home against our yellow baby Sharks which will be the game of the round, with our end of season BBQ and presentation night straight after.
Go Baby Sharks!