BPCA round 4 wrap: Barwon Heads win last over thriller, all the results

Barwon Heads scraped over the line with balls to spare with the help of some new faces, while Newcomb maintains it is better placed than last year despite another loss. See all the action here.

Portarlington got the win over Newcomb, Picture: Mark Wilson

Barwon Heads’ strong premiership defence has continued with a thrilling last over triumph against Barrabool.

Barrabool set the Seagulls 163 for victory led by opener Shane Steven’s 67 and took the home side right to the death.

Barwon Heads was on the back foot early in the second innings after losing two early wickets, but a resolute 47 from in-form batter Jaxon Mallett (47) and Angus Ford’s blistering 37 from 21 deliveries proved to be crucial.

Barrabool opening bowler Archer Jaques kept his side right in the game with 3/33 with his eight overs.

It left the Seagulls needing six runs to win from a nailbiting final over, but Jacko Mallett and young keeper batter Matteo Surace held firm to hit the winning runs with two balls to spare.

The five-wicket win puts Barwon Heads three points ahead of powerhouse Anglesea, who knocked off Ocean Grove by seven wickets.

Barwon Heads captain Dan Donaldson, who made 25 with the bat, was pleased to get the win in a game that could have gone either way.

Barrabool bowler Archer Jaques took three wickets. Picture: Mark Wilson

“(Jacko and Matteo) them showed cool heads to get us over the line at the end there,” Donaldson said.

“It was a close finish, it went down to the wire which is what we expected from Barrabool, they are a quality outfit and they were there and there abouts this last year and I think they will be this year as well.

“Credit to Barrabool, they stuck to their plans and took the game right to the last over.

I think the one dayers are often hard to win and they can go either way, definitely have a slightly different outfit to the one in the grand final last year, but there is a few new players taking their opportunity and showing their talent.”

Among those new faces are Jaxon Mallett, Surace and 15-year-old debutant Angus Mackie, who bowled eight overs of leg spin during the middle overs.

“Jaxon Mallett at the top, he played mostly C-grade last year and scored a lot of runs in C-grade, but he put in the hard yards in pre-season and got his crack in round two,” Donaldson said.

He has looked right at home, he is hitting the ball cleaner than anyone else and he has hit 44 not out and he hit 47 again on Saturday. He has been very impressive.

“Young Matteo was a fringe player last year but when he has come in at two critical moments with the bat he is such a calm presence for his age.

“His skillset and his composure is definitely admirable and with the glove as well he is really tidy

“A 15-year-old to come in the middle overs when they have got eight wickets in hand is a tough ask, (Mackie) has got a big future ahead of him.”

Meanwhile, an unlucky 99 from Zac Jones wasn’t enough to lead Ocean Grove to victory over Anglesea.

Jones was run out for 99 before Will Huby steered Anglesea to a comfortable seven-wicket win.

Armstrong Creek cruised to Drysdale’s target of 151 two wickets down as Ben Norgrove and Benjamin Robertson both hit 52 not out, with Titans skipper Daniel Maclean taking 3/23 with the ball.

Jan Juc chased down 174 with four overs to spare with Fraser Flatworthy (65) and Alex Jennings (50*) making half centuries.

BPCA2: ‘Building’ Bulls in better place despite winless start

Newcomb captain Shane Healey says the Bulls are in much better place this season despite their 0-3 start.

Bulls playing president Brendan Sheedy hit out at “lame excuses” and a lack of commitment from players last season which compounded their campaign as they slumped to a 1-12 win-loss record.

Healey said numbers are no longer an issue, helped by eight players crossing over from Armstrong Creek, with one of those in Praveen Myavel debuting in A-grade on Saturday.

Their A-grade side could have been stronger if not for one key signing backing out of joining Newcomb at the last minute.

Newcomb lost by seven wickets to Portarlington on the Demons’ home turf on Saturday, its third straight loss of the season.

But Healey, who led the way with 83 off 97 balls against the Demons, believes they are trending in the right direction.

Shane Healey helped Newcomb to a competitive total. Picture: Mark Wilson

Healey hits a ball past the keeper Picture: Mark Wilson

“We feel like we’re stronger, we feel like we are building again which is the key. We feel like we are not too far away, we are probably two maybe three players away at being right at the top-end.

“We thought we had a couple of them, and then they didn’t end up coming.”

The Bulls had strong starts with the bat in their first two games before being bowled out for 124 in their loss to Surf Coast and 112 in their eight-wicket defeat against Inverleigh.

It was a different story against Portarlington, where Healey hit 15 boundaries and a six as the Bulls posted a competitive total of 185.

However, Portarlington batter Steve Illingworth made light work of the runchase with an unbeaten 78 from 75, while James Tilders followed up his tidy 2/20 with the ball with 33 not out.

Tilders even leant a helping hand to even gave a helping hand to Newcomb’s Yemi Amusa who copped a cramp while batting.

Healey said Portarlington was just too good on the day.

Newcomb batter Yemi Amusa is helped out by James Tilders. Picture: Mark Wilson

“It was a good day batting wise for the club because we had sort of fell away the first two games. We had two really good starts then we fell away, so it was good to see that we didn’t just fall away again,” Healey said.

“We did what I asked of them with the bat, so they didn’t just come in and throw their wickets away which they had done in the first couple of games.

“They were just too good, Steve Illingworth had a great innings, saw them home. James Tilders had a really good all-round game.

“He bowled really well as well and he batted through with Steve and got them through for a comfortable win in the end.”

Inverleigh skittled 2023/24 grand finalist Collendina for 92 as it posted a comfortable four wicket win, Wallington has a percentage boosting win over Surf Coast, while a 97 from Brian White wasn’t enough for St Leonards to get over the line against Winchelsea.

Originally published as BPCA round 4 wrap: Barwon Heads win last over thriller, all the results