Geelong need to beat top side St Kilda in the final round to stay in finals contention

Geelong’s finals hopes hang by a thread, needing to beat Premier Cricket’s number one team on a home deck which has been the subject of controversy over the past week.

Geelong celebrate a wicket against Footscray. Picture: Carey Neate.

Geelong will need to knock off the top team in Premier Cricket, and reply on other favourable results, to keep its finals flame flickering.

That’s the reality facing the Cats after losing to Footscray by four wickets on Saturday at Kardinia Park.

The Saints sit on top of the table after a 10-win season, but will have to travel to Kardinia Park for the Round 20 clash.

However, there is something of a logjam mid-table, with 11 points between eighth-place Melbourne and Footscray in 14th.

Geelong is currently 10th with 37 points after a 6-8 season.

Geelong had to bat on a greentop against Footscray on day one. Picture: Supplied.

Melbourne and ninth-placed Prahran both play top teams in Richmond and Ringwood respectively this Saturday.

Last Saturday, the Cats had been rolled for 145 with several players getting starts – Eamonn Vines (39), Lachie Field (26 not out), Josh Larkin (21), Ollie Peake (21) – but there were massive concerns with the quality of the pitch.

The City of Greater Geelong told this masthead it was prepared with “additional moisture” to combat heavy usage over the summer months.

Footscray was presented with a far better surface on day two of its game against Geelong. Picture: Supplied.

The Cats’ first grade were kept off Kardinia Park until Round 18 against Prahran following delayed wicket table works.

However, on Saturday, some were astounded to see the difference in the surface following last Saturday’s uber greentop.

The green pitch used in Geelong's clash with Footscray. Picture: Play Cricket

In reply, the Footscray batted for 71 overs, finishing at 6-166.

English import Jamie Porter (2-32 off 20 overs) was again amongst the wickets while young spinner Arjun Sehrawat (2-28 off 13 overs) continued his hot form.

Sehrawat has taken a wicket in all of his 14 game this season, and shot to 11th on the bowling aggregate in first grade with 23 poles at 15.83, the best haul of any Geelong bowler this Premier season.

Meanwhile, Larkin has been in fantastic form post-Christmas, with 253 runs at 50.6, taking him past 500 runs for the 2024-25 season.

Originally published as Geelong need to beat top side St Kilda in the final round to stay in finals contention