Cricket Southern Bayside: Brad Erasmus scores match-winning century for South Caulfield

South Caulfield’s big guns fired to secure top spot in CSB Championship, while Carnegie was relegated in unlucky circumstances.

Brad Erasmus of South Caulfield in action.

South Caulfield captain Will Russell called it a “phenomenal” run chase.

Set 5-239 by Carnegie, South motored to victory with eight wickets and 16 balls to spare in the final round of Cricket Southern Bayside Championship Division on Saturday.

The reigning premiers scored 2-241 in 37.2 overs — and are hitting their straps at the right time of the season.

South Caulfield opener Brad Erasmus took full advantage of the flat pitch and fast outfield at Princes Park, hitting an unbeaten 104 off 116 balls.

It was the tall right-hander’s sixth century for South, to go with a double century in 2018-19.

He and Lewis Mildenhall (63 off 52 balls) put on 142 to zap Carnegie’s hopes of winning to avoid relegation.

South Caulfield No. 3 Elliott Bradley maintained the momentum with 55 off 43 balls before Russell (9no) saw his side home.

Lewis Mildenhall. Picture: Valeriu Campan

The win sealed top spot and a home semi-final for South Caulfield, while Carnegie finished on the bottom and was relegated.

The Neggie would have been devastated after putting up such a big total, led by opener Suraj Nageswara Rao, with a brilliant 127 off 109 balls (13 fours, 3 sixes), and Mayank Srivastava, with 61.

Russell said it was a top effort by his side to chase down such a big total.

“The pitch was just super flat and you know our ground, it’s quick as,” he said.

“We were always a chance, I thought, but you’ve always got to bat well.”

Russell said Erasmus and Mildenhall were in the zone.

“Brad and Lewy were batting at more than an a run a ball,” he said.

“It looked like they were pretty comfortable from the get-go, really.”

Erasmus has made 407 runs, at 40.7, this season and Russell says he can be relied on to “come good when it really matters”.

He said Mildenhall, who leads the competition run chart with 536, at 76.57, was having an “amazing” season.

“Lewy has been out of this world,” Russell said.

South Caulfield will host Bonbeach this weekend and Russell says it will be a tough game.

“They’re absolutely on fire,” he said of Bonbeach.

“It’s a new season now. That’s how I put it to the boys, like, season one is over and now we move into season two.

“We have pretty close to the same side as last year. There’s definitely a lot of finals experience there but I’m sure there will be a lot of nerves as always.”

Russell said South could “potentially” make one change to its side for the semi-final.

“It’s always hard. A few difficult selection meetings this week,” he said.

Mordialloc batter AK Tyrone. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Mordialloc snapped a five-game losing streak to beat Beaumaris and snatch a finals berth.

The Bloodhounds bowled beautifully to restrict Beauie to 8-139 off 40 overs, with spinners Nick Connellan (3-30 off 8 overs), Mat Campbell (2-18 off 8) and AK Tyrone (0-22 off 8) applying the pressure.

Beaumaris skipper Cameron Watts top scored with 41 off 79 balls at the top of the order.

In reply, Mordialloc needed to stand tall and it did, coasting to 3-142 off 30 overs, with openers Chamindu Mathra (41) and Helitha Withanage (32) laying the foundations with a 78-run partnership and No. 3 Tyrone hitting 35 not out.

Bonbeach paceman Tim Mulholland goes at Murrumbeena. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Bonbeach spinner Tom Smith.

Mordialloc’s win saw Murrumbeena, which lost to Bonbeach, slip out of the four and miss finals.

A blazing Bonbeach smashed 3-135 off only 17.5 overs in reply to the Beena’s 134.

Bonbeach paceman Tim Mulholland made an explosive start to the game, dismissing Murrumbeena opener Brett Hardham and skipper Brad Kruger with the first two balls of the game.

Hampton’s Louis McAsey delivered a match-winning spell as the Seahorses upset finals contenders Bentleigh.

McAsey captured 4-17 off 8 overs to help restrict Bentleigh to 9-146, in reply to 9-155.

Earlier, Hampton No. 10 Chris Ellison made a vital 24 off 21 balls to push the Seahorses past 150. Tully Foot took 3-22 for Bentleigh.

Championship Division ladder: South Caulfield 44, Bonbeach 42, Bentleigh 35, Mordialloc 30, Murrumbeena 28, Hampton 27, Beaumaris 19, Carnegie 17.

Semi-finals: South Caulfield v Bonbeach, Bentleigh v Mordialloc.