Final four settled

By Iain Harley
IN an amazing Ferntree Gully and District Cricket Association round 10 clash between the top of the table Rowville and Ferntree Gully, the Blues held firm to take the points.
Resuming at 4/24 in pursuit of Rowville’s 131, Ferntree Gully lost two early wickets to be 6/30.
Graeme Salan stepped to the wicket and was the last man out, making 78.
Gavin Williams picked up four wickets for the Hawks.
In its second innings, Rowville was 2/85 with Dave Kennett making 50. The win will see Ferntree Gully move to the top spot.
In the closest result of the round, Johnson Park’s Mark Dinon collected two wickets in the last over of the day to shut out Upper Ferntree Gully by five runs.
At 7/91 the Kings looked out of the game, but a fine knock of 95 by Brett Powell combined with a crucial partnership with Steve Collard seemed to have them back on track, only for Dinon to snatch victory away.
This result sees both teams become part of a four-way logjam for fifth spot.
Mountain Gate let its game slip away, cruising at a respectable 3/193 before collapsing 12 runs short of the target set by Lysterfield.
Nielsen, Hood, Bowyer and Samaraseekera all got starts for the Gators, but it was former Ivanhoe player Daniel Castaneda grabbing 5/54 that helped Lysterfield to hold on and secure its spot in the final four.
At the dome, the Upwey bats made sure of a win over Knoxfield, compiling 6/292. Brendan Heath, Danny Taylor and Ryan Pitts were all among the runs for the Tigers, while David Pruysers was the best for the Knights with three wickets.
Upwey is sitting fourth and looking to more March action. The James gang was at it again in The Basin’s win over Knox Gardens. Leigh grabbed five and Craig took three to have the Falcons all out for 79.
In its second dig, Knox Gardens was 2/65.
St John’s Tecoma beat Belgrave on the back of a fine innings from Sam Suriyarachchi, who made a fine 79 before being caught one-handed on the boundary by Dave Goodger. A fine spell of bowling by Linton Toms almost had the Magpies back in the game before the Saints passed their score. Rod Mead also picked up three wickets.
In the Decoite Shield, Ferntree Gully beat Upwey compiling 220 in reply to the Tigers 130.The Basin beat Footballers, dismissing the team for 64 with Shane Underhill taking 5/14. Upper Gully accounted for South Belgrave, despite Brad Trinnick’s 73, with Beyer and Lizza the best for the Kings.
Lysterfield lost to Eildon Park by 10 runs and Monbulk amassed 6/359, thanks to Chris Coen (159), to defeat Johnson Park. Victorious country week captain Jason Fraser placed himself down the order, electing not to bat.
• Former South Belgrave cricketer Glen Maxwell, in his second game for Richmond’s fist XI, faced his biggest challenge when he was dismissed by the legendary Shane Warne playing for St Kilda.
Maxwell made 5 and 17 for the game.