Cricket Southern Bayside: Mentone consolidates top spot in Division 1

Some Big Bash-quality hitting helped Mentone celebrate a 21st birthday in style in Cricket Southern Bayside Division 1.

Josh Fisher bowling for Mentone on Saturday after making a big impact with the bat. Picture: Valeriu Campan

A whirlwind finish to its innings gave Mentone huge momentum against McKinnon on Saturday.

Tigers No.7 Josh Fisher blasted 22 runs off the final over, with three sixes and a four, to help his side to 6-174 at Mentone Reserve.

Fisher finished unbeaten on 37, from only 16 balls.

Earlier, Simon Cormie (40 off 69 balls, with five boundaries), skipper Dane Heverin (35, two boundaries and two sixes) and Gavin Brown (34, two sixes) ensured a good total.

In reply, McKinnon got off to a solid start, reaching 0-34, but lost regular wickets to be dismissed for 131 in the 38th over.

Birthday boy Ed McGarry helped bowl Mentone to victory. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Mentone recruit Rob Tunbridge continued his form with 3-26 off 8 overs, again taking key wickets.

Matt Williams (2-19) and Chris Smyth (2-27) also impressed, while Ed McGarry, who was celebrating his 21st birthday party at the club that night, snared 2-25, including the last wicket, to get the party started.

He had teammates chuckling earlier when he lost a high outfield catch in the sun and it smacked him straight in the ribs.

Mentone remains on top of the ladder, headed for another tilt at the flag.

Mentone players celebrate. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Aspendale climbed back into the top four after a rousing 15-run win over St Brigid’s-St Louis in the local derby.

Ethan Wright (65 off 54 balls, with 3 fours and 4 sixes) and opener Tom Cleaver (62) were the stand outs in the Dales’ 9-168.

Aspendale’s bowlers then started with a bang, slicing through the Saints’ top order to have them wobbling at 2-1 and then 5-29 — a fired-up Wright nabbing four of the scalps.

St Brigid’s-St Louis fought back, led by Liam Harris (45), Andrew Loffel (29) and Mick Meehan (38no off 29 balls), but they ran out of overs and were kept to 8-153.

Wright capped a big game with 4-24 off 8 overs.

Calvin Barlow and Jay Jhamb performed with bat and ball to help Dingley defeat Brighton District by 46 runs.

Josh Fisher goes at Mentone. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Barlow hit 33 (42 balls, five boundaries) and Jhamb 21 not out (23 balls) in a total of 163, underpinned by an excellent 53 by opener Bevin Corneille.

In reply, Brighton District made a good start at 0-37 but lost five quick wickets to slump to 5-48 and the innings expired in the 38th over for 117.

Barlow bowled well to take 2-25 off 8 overs and Jhamb took 3-15 off 8 overs.

Mordialloc continued its march to the finals with a commanding seven-wicket win over Chelsea.

Six Bloodhounds took wickets as they shot out Chelsea for 70 in 31.1 overs; Insaf Iqbal (3-18) and Liam Bence (2-11) the multiple wicket takers.

In reply, Mordialloc coasted to 3-71 off 17 overs, with Damith Mapa Ralalage (25no) and Ryan Morris (24no) in crisp form.

In Championship Division, South Caulfield produced a clinical batting display to see off Hampton.

McKinnon’s Dahan Liyanage.

Set 176 for victory, South’s openers Brad Erasmus (93no off 103 balls, with 7 fours and 3 sixes) and Josh O’Donnell (67 off 113 balls) nearly peeled off the target themselves, putting on 165.

South Caulfield coasted to 1-179 off 35.2 overs to consolidate top spot.

Earlier, Hampton skipper Dan Forbes cracked 78 off 79 balls.

Beaumaris captain Sam Coates hammered 12 boundaries in a match winning knock of 95 off 100 balls to steer his side to victory over Carnegie.

He was run out just as he looked certain to make a century.

James Miller (3-31) and Will Avery (2-28) combined to restrict Carnegie to 8-192 after half centuries to Abhilash Sharma (58) and Saumil Patel (53).

Coates then launched the run chase with a brilliant innings, supported by Aidan Fulcher (23), Miller (28no) and Chris Hall (21no) as the Sharks made 3-193 off 39 overs.

Parkdale broke through for a long-overdue win, chasing down Murrumbeena’s 6-183, making 5-184 off 37.5 overs.

Dale Elmi (60 off 57 balls), Rahul Jain (35no) and Ryan O’Connor (34no) led the charge.

Earlier, Beena opener Alex Hay made 78 not out.

Bentleigh consolidated second spot with a hard-fought win over Bonbeach.

Ladders:

Championship: South Caulfield 40, Bentleigh 32, Beaumaris 31, Bonbeach 21, Carnegie 19, Murrumbeena 19, Parkdale 16, Hampton 11.

Division 1: Mentone 39, Dingley 38, Mordialloc 35, Aspendale 23, McKinnon 23, St Brigid’s-St Louis 20, Brighton District 19, Chelsea 0.