Cricket Southern Bayside: Match-winning partnership sends Bonbeach into grand final

Bonbeach was wobbling before a couple of experienced stars seized the moment, as the Sharks went through to the CSB Championship division decider against South Caulfield.

Robbie Lancaster and Daniel Mueller played vital knocks for Bonbeach. Picture: Facebook

You only make a grand final by performing under pressure.

And that’s exactly what Bonbeach did on Saturday, in particular two of its experienced stars.

Robbie Lancaster and Daniel Mueller came together with the Sharks reeling at 7-50 in their semi-final against Mentone in Cricket Southern Bayside Championship division.

Taking an aggressive approach, “Wiz” and “Muels” shared an 88-run partnership that lifted Bonbeach out of trouble and on to 154.

Lancaster made 52 from 84 balls (7 fours, 1 six), while Mueller also scored 52 (from 53 balls, with 7 fours and 1 six).

In reply, Mentone had 24 overs to bat on Saturday afternoon and reached 5-93 at stumps — and that’s how it finished, the match drawn after no play on Sunday because of the wet weather.

Daniel Mueller.

Bonbeach went through to the grand final, courtesy of its higher finish on the ladder.

“That was massive,” Bonbeach skipper Callum Dodson said of the Lancaster-Mueller partnership.

“Those two boys are experienced so I didn’t have to say too much.

“The way they went out there was, ‘we may as well play some shots’.

“And I think the sun finally came out at that point and the wicket got a little bit harder because it was quite soft early and our top order struggled a bit. Mentone bowled well but it was doing a bit.

“With Muels and Wiz trying to take the game on and trying to score it put the pressure back on them. It was a great partnership and a match winning one in the end.”

It was heartache for Mentone, with Sunday’s rain preventing the Tigers from having a dash at victory.

“It was obviously an extremely disappointing way to end our season,” Mentone skipper Dane Heverin said.

“We took the game on and tried our best to push for a result. We tried our hardest to get on on Sunday but unfortunately it wasn’t to be.”

Daniel Mueller and Callum Dodson. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Bonbeach will face South Caulfield in the grand final and Dodson is backing his Sharks to “go all the way”.

“We’ve lost Tom (Smith) and GT (George Thomas) but I still reckon we’ve got a great side to go all the way this year and we’re only one win away,” he said.

“Coming up against South, they’re always strong. Over the years we’ve had some great battles and both sides get along well with each other. But obviously on Saturday and Sunday it’s game on. I think it’s going to be a good one.”

South Caulfield will be without one of its key bowlers in the grand final, with off-spinner Jonathon Curtis breaking his wrist at training just before the last round of the season.

South Caulfield will compete in its 13th First XI grand final in 14 years, and will be chasing back-to-back premierships.

Michael “Babs’’ De Iacovo batting for South Caulfield. Picture: Valeriu Campan

South went through to the flag decider after their semi-final against Mordialloc was a wash-out draw.

Mordialloc will consider itself unlucky after racking up 7-276 declared on Saturday and having South Caulfield 2-47 before rain hit on Sunday.

Bloodhounds captain Brendan Morris gave his side a strong foundation with 76 at the top of the list.

No. 3 Ryan Morris made 71 (4 fours, 3 sixes) and Lochlan Davies hit 56 and Kyle Frencham 23no.

In reply, South Caulfield lost 2-23 before Brad Erasmus (19no) held firm.

In Division 1, McKinnon and Dingley will play off in the grand final after progressing via wash-out draws in their semi-finals.

McKinnon made 9-197 against Carnegie on Saturday, with Ulricht van Duyker (38) and Adam Ahmed (37no) top-scoring against some excellent bowling by Neggie pair Rakshit Patel (4-40) and Kaushik Jagannathan (3-42).

In the other semi, Dingley made 197 against Parkdale United (0-7). Dingoes No. 3 Ryan McLean blasted 89. For Parkdale United, skipper Tim Drummond (3-43), Conway Gilbert (3-38) and Daniel Lloyd (3-80) bowled well.