Cricket Southern Bayside: Beaumaris defeats South Caulfield to book spot in grand final
Beaumaris will chase its first CSB Championship division premiership after a stunning win in the preliminary final, highlighted by “the best catch you’ll ever see’’.
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Snick, snick and snick.
A blistering Beaumaris reduced South Caulfield to 3-5 in the opening minutes of Saturday’s Cricket Southern Bayside Championship division preliminary final — and all three wickets were caught behind by keeper Sam Coates.
Sharks pacemen Tom Mellick and Ben Earney bowled with fire to entice edges in a frenetic start.
Coates’ catch to dismiss South Caulfield gun Lewis Mildenhall was described by Beaumaris playing-coach Chris Hall as “one of the best catches you’ll ever see for a wicketkeeper’’.
“It was low in front of first slip,’’ he said.
“It wouldn’t have carried to first slip. He threw himself to his right. I think it was about the third one I’d those he’s taken in the last three weeks. He’s a bit like Benjamin Button at the moment, he’s getting better with age.’’
Beaumaris skipper and leg-spinner Cameron Watts chimed in with two wickets as South Caulfield slumped to 5-33.
The reigning premiers fought back, with Dan Ford (44) and Kanishka Alvitigala (24) digging in, but they were held to 9-131 off 40 overs.
Earney finished with 3-27, Mellick 2-15 and Watts 2-23, while Beaumaris coach Chris Hall chipped in with 2-21.
In reply, Beaumaris lost Coates (7) early and was wobbling slightly at 3-41.
But opener Max Stroud (44 off 80 balls) and his best mate, former Melbourne all-rounder Jonty Leadbeater (47no off 78 balls), steadied the ship, the pair putting on 68 to take the score to 109 before Stroud was dismissed, caught from the bowling of Lewis Mildenhall.
It was left to Leadbeater and Hall (4no) to guide the Sharks (4-132) to victory in the 37th over.
Hall was thrilled with Stroud’s gritty innings.
“The captain flipped him from eight to opening yesterday,’’ Hall said.
“He had to have surgery on his jaw about four weeks ago and we thought he was out for the season.
“That was the first time he’s batted in first XI cricket in about five or six weeks. I think that will be a pivotal day for Max.’’
Beaumaris will chase its first CSB top grade flag when it meets Bonbeach in the grand final next weekend.
“We enjoy playing Bonbeach because it’s always a good contest, it’s played in the right spirit of the game,’’ Hall said.
“Their ground encourages positive, attacking cricket with the smaller boundaries.
“Neither of us has won one of these so it will be a new premier for CSB. There’s only been South Caulfield, Hampton and Bentleigh who have won one.’’
South Caulfield’s loss in the preliminary final means it will miss the first XI grand final for the first time since 2012-13.
A batting blitz propelled St Brigid’s-St Louis into the Division 1 grand final.
The Saints racked up 5-290 off 40 overs against Dingley in the preliminary final, with opener Trae Love-Linay making 96 off 108 balls (9 fours, 2 sixes), Mark Jamieson (63 off 54), Jeremy Heys (43) and skipper Liam Harris (61no off 38 balls, with 5 fours and 4 sixes).
Love-Linay and Jamieson set the tone with a rollicking 116-run opening stand.
In reply, Dingley was held to 9-219. Ryan McLean (53) and Mark Fitch (50no) tried hard but the Saints bowlers had all the answers, led by James Barker (3-25).
St Brigid’s-St Louis will meet Carnegie in the flag decider. It could be a fairytale story for former Victorian quickie Allan Wise, who has returned to St Brigid’s-St Louis — his junior club — this season.
In Division 2, Parkdale shot out Chelsea for 112 to easily defend its 6-155 and progress to the grand final.
An unbeaten 50 by James Grande set up Parkdale’s total before Grant Piels captured 4-19 off 7.2 overs in a match-winning spell.
Parkdale will face Cheltenham in the grand final.
Bayside won through to the Division 3 grand final.
The Stringrays scored a clinical four-wicket win over Murrumbeena in then preliminary final, with Richard Hunter (3-28), Alex Gebert (53) and Will Means (36no) showing the way.
Bayside will meet Bonbeach in the grand final.
Grand finals, next Saturday (March 18):
Championship: Bonbeach v Beaumaris.
Division 1: Carnegie v St Brigid’s-St Louis.
Division 2: Cheltenham v Parkdale.
Division 3: Bonbeach v Bayside.
Division 4: Dingley v Hampton.
Division 5: Bentleigh v Bonbeach.
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