MPCA 2022-23: Pines makes Provincial finals, Sorrento misses out

Pines believes it can be the giant killers of the MPCA Provincial finals after winning its last five games to snatch fourth spot.

Pat Jackson bowling for Pines. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Timing its run prefectly, Pines upset Sorrento on Saturday to jump into the MPCA Provincial four and set up a semi-final showdown with minor premiers Old Peninsula next weekend.

In a dramatic final round, Sorrento slipped out of the top four, Old Peninsula comfortably won the minor premiership, Langwarrin held second, despite losing to Long Island, and Baden Powell cemented third spot.

Pines goes into finals with momentum.

“They (Old Peninsula) are big favourites, everyone knows that,” Pines captain Ricky Ramsdale said.

“If you’re a gambling man you’re going to pick them nine times out of 10.

“Saturday might be the 10th time.

“Our boys are excited and we think we can defend a half decent score, that’s what we do best, like in the Twenty20s.

“It’s exciting.”

Pines paceman Billy Humphrey. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Pines survived a batting collapse to edge Sorrento by 13 runs in a tension-packed thriller.

The Piners looked to have ruined their hopes when they crashed from 4-98 to 113 all out.

But they then produced a brilliant bowling and fielding display to dismiss Sorrento for 100; Ramsdale taking the final wicket, LBW.

It was a shattering end to the season for Sorrento, the Sharks tumbling from third to fifth and missing finals.

Ramsdale (3-13), Patrick Jackson (3-27) and Billy Humphrey (2-22) did the damage with the ball for Pines in an often “rowdy” contest at Sorrento.

“It was probably one of the best home and away wins I’ve had because they had their past players day up top and they probably had 70 or 80 people there,” Ramsdale said.

“And we had 20 or 30 ourselves so it was a pretty rowdy day.

“We play our best cricket when we play aggressive…all the boys believed.”

After languishing near the bottom of the ladder at the Christmas break, Pines has clicked into gear since January.

The Piners have got on a roll, including winning the Jack Peacock Cup Twenty20 premiership a fortnight ago.

“It’s been a good turnaround,” Ramsdale said.

“It was pretty frustrating…I was sick of people coming up to me saying ‘you’re doing really good with the team you’ve got’.

“We played all the teams and I thought we’re not far off these guys, it was nice to turn it around.”

Baxter champion Daniel Warwick was warmly applauded after playing his final game on Saturday.

He made 34 off 47 balls in Baxter’s loss to Old Peninsula, bringing down the curtain on a brilliant 19-year career at Baxter that included nearly 10,000 1st XI runs, at an average just under 50 and 20 centuries.

Old Peninsula skipper Justin Grant captured 3-7 and made 22 off 19 balls as the Pirates banked their 10th win of the season.

Craig Entwistle made 69, taking his season run tally to 584, as Baden Powell put up 8-227 and then dismissed Red Hill for 156. Ben Frith nabbed 3-28 with the ball for the finals-bound Braves.

Long Island openers Aiden McKenna (55) and Peter Dunlop (43) put on 104 to set up their side’s win over Langwarrin. Matt Prosser did best for Langy with 63 off 76 balls.

In Peninsula division, Seaford Tigers, Mornington, Heatherhill and Dromana will play finals.

Seaford Tigers young gun Luke Kranzbuhler grabbed 5-36 in their win over Dromana, a dress rehearsal for next weekend’s semi-final between the same two sides.

Similarly, Mornington beat Heatherhill in the final game, and will clash again in a semi. Bryce McGain took 2-7 and Charlie Parker made an unbeaten 42 in the Bulldogs’ win over the Hills.

Moorooduc avoided relegation with a rousing win over Flinders, which was shunted to the bottom and will drop down to District grade next season. Cooper Huggard blasted 60 and Daham Liyanage 52, as well as taking 3-17, to play starring roles in the Ducs’ vital win.

In District, Seaford made the finals despite losing to Rosebud, inspired by Jarrod Hicks (48) and Kane Donald (44). The Sharks secured third spot.

Carrum Downs finished on top after a final-round tie with Main Ridge.

Delacombe Park finished in second spot after Joel Malcolm (50no) and Ben Bradley-Bridge (47no) set up its win over Carrum.

In Sub-District, Mt Martha takes a three-game winning streak into finals after beating Ballam Park, with Ben Stallworthy (53), Simon Street (71) and Chris Holcombe (45no) showing the way.

Balnarring, Tootgarook, Mt Martha and Boneo make up the final four.

Semi-finals, Saturday and Sunday:

Provincial: Old Peninsula v Pines, Langwarrin v Baden Powell.

Peninsula: Seaford Tigers v Dromana, Mornington v Heatherhill.

District: Carrum Downs v Seaford, Delacombe Park v Rosebud.

Sub-District: Balnarring v Boneo, Tootgarook v Mt Martha.