An out of form Anglesea to play Barwon Heads in an A1 semi-final
It will be a grand final rematch in the BPCA’s top tier as Wallington and Collendina approach A2 semi-finals in magnificent batting form after historic deeds.
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It will be a grand final rematch in the BPCA’s top tier from this Saturday at RT Fuller Oval as Barwon Heads start their quest for back-to-back A1 flags and three BPCA titles in as many years.
The Seagulls downed Anglesea in the A1 grand final last March in its first season post-promotion, as the Roos ultimately stumbled at the final hurdle chasing five flags in a row.
Barwon Heads downed Drysdale in the 22-23 A2 grand final to win their way into the top flight.
However, this time, Barwon Heads face an Anglesea team who are perhaps a touch vulnerable.
Anglesea was resorted to just 6-16 in Round 14 by Drysdale and some of its leading batters in Ty Norman and Simon Umbers appear down on their pre-Christmas output.
Norman finished fifth and Umbers seventh on the batting aggregate after the regular season.
In the plus column, however, their bowling looks extremely sound and no opposition team has breached the 200-run barrier this season.
Tom Beasley has eight wickets from his past three games, including his second six-for the season in a 6-77 against Barwon Heads.
Meanwhile, Michael Thornton came equal first in the bowling aggregate with 24 wickets at less than nine runs apiece.
For the Seagulls, spinner Daniel Donaldson has taken seven wickets at 23 from his past three games while Max Melzer has been a run machine since mid-December, with 297 runs at 59.4.
Then there’s ladder leaders Armstrong Creek, chasing its ninth win from 10 games against Barrabool in the other A1 semi.
Titans opener Clary Mulgrew breached the 700-run barrier for the second season in a row while Jack Maclean finished in fourth place on the bowling aggregate with 23 wickets at 14.17.
However, the scary thing for the Bulls is that Mulgrew has not passed 31 from his past five knocks, across BPCA and representative cricket, and is perhaps destined for a finals-shaping innings.
Mulgrew played a lone hand with 80 in the Titans’ semi-final loss against the Seagulls last season.
Key players:
Armstrong Creek
Clay Mulgrew
Won the A1 batting aggregate for the second time running while breaching the 700-run barrier again too.
Made 58 against the Bulls in late January.
Barwon Heads
Daniel Donaldson
The skipper has taken seven wickets at 23 from his past three games after a relatively barren period where Donaldson took just two from five fixtures.
Also made an important 36 against Anglesea in a two-wicket win in early February coming in at number five.
Anglesea
Ty Norman
Expect the Roos star to bounce back to his best after a relatively quiet season post-Christmas.
Started the season in sensational style with two centuries and a pair of half tons by December.
And ominously for the Bulls, Norman’s highest score was a 142 against them just before Christmas.
Made 54 in last year’s A1 grand final against the Seagulls.
Barrabool
James Fisher
Finished the regular season on 24 poles, equal with Anglesea’s Michael Thornton and Drysdale’s Blake Dobbin.
Did his best to contain Queenscliff last week with 4-54 off 17 overs — his second four-for in as many games.
Also has scores of 62 and 43 since the Christmas break coming in at six.
Is a key Demon set to explode?
Wallington and Collendina will be feeling pretty good about their batting after posting monster totals in Round 14.
The Wallabies belted an under strength Newcomb side for 4-368 declared off just 66 overs, with a club-record partnership for any wicket between UK imports James Sood and Billy Gravett of 255.
However, the Cobras responded in week two of Round 14 with a league-record 7-559 against St Leonards with Corey Walter (210) and Harrisyn Wingrave (208) combining for a 363-run stand.
They are now third and fourth highest scorers respectively in first grade cricket in the BPCA.
The Cobras have seriously got their season together after being rolled for just 86 in Round 8 by Portarlington and have been unbeaten since.
The Wallabies will chase their first top grade finals win since March, 2018 when it beat Drysdale in a B Grade semi.
Coach Matt Sampson-Barnes said it had been a consistent year, with six players within a few votes of each other in the best and fairest count, including a raft of UK imports.
Portarlington, who face the Wallabies, have managed to adjust following the departure of top three batters Steven and Riley Illingworth to Tasmania.
Last year’s leading A2 batter Brenton Toole (724 runs at 51.71 with three tons), has been a master of consistency this year with eight scores between 30 and 60, but without a monster dig.
Is he set to explode like he did in 23-24?
Key players:
Wallington
Bill Gravett
The UK import is in the Wallabies’ top four for runs and wickets, and was third in the competition with 26 poles at 16.08.
After smashing an unbeaten 133 off 116 balls and taking three wickets last round, it’s fair to say confidence will be high.
Inverleigh
Lachlan Platt
The Kookaburras’ most prolific batter this year, Platt has hit 223 runs at an average of 74.3 since late January.
Collendina
Corey Walter
Should not surprise any BPCA observers after Walter hit the third highest individual score in first grade history with 210 against St Leonards in Round 14.
Walter has backed up a tremendous 23-24 season with 734 runs at 122.33.
Dismissed for 15 in last year’s A2 grand final, Walter will be looking to make amends.
Portarlington
Brenton Toole
Toole, who finished 23-24 with 724 runs at 51.71, has been just as consistent this season but without the massive scores of 102, 123 and 167 he produced last year.
Apart from an opening round duck, Toole hit double figures in all of his 11 knocks since with four half centuries from his past five innings.
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