Harper Sercombe
Point Cook is heading back to the Victorian Turf Cricket Association division 3 finals.
The Warriors needed to win on Saturday against Pascoe Vale Hadfield to secure a spot within the top four.
While it wasn’t always looking promising for the Warriors a strong bowling performance was able to take them to a 34 run victory.
After winning the toss and batting the Warriors weren’t able to see out their overs, being dismissed for 163 in the 38th over.
Mayank Sharma was the only Warrior who was able to make a significant contribution making 53 off 72 deliveries.
Coach Carmine Conte said it was an impressive knock from his number four.
“He’s quite an aggressive player but he read the situation and batted very sensibly which was very good to see,” he said.
With the ball the Warriors were much better, with both Panthers openers gone in the first five overs.
From that point, wickets fell throughout the Panthers’ innings with none of the batters able to put together a significant partnership until it was too late with the Panthers falling for 129 after 39 overs.
Sharma, Harvinder Singh and Vishay Ramchander all took two wickets for the Warriors.
Conte said he was pleased with the performances across the board.
“It was good conditions for cricket and the boys played well,” he said.
“We probably left a few runs out there, we didn’t bat out our overs but our bowling effort was pretty good.”
Last season the Warriors finished as minor premiers but lost to Sunbury in a semi final. This season, Conte said he is looking forward to going into this weekend’s Saturday-Sunday clash as the underdog, facing top team the Williamstown Imperials.
“This year we go in as the underdog, last year we went in as favourites,” he said. “It’s just one game at a time and we’ll see what happens.
“I tipped this to be a semi before the start of the season and that’s the way it panned out which is unbelievable.”
Conte said playing away at Fearon Reserve is not a bad thing for the Warriors, with it being a good batting wicket in Williamstown.
“At their ground which is a great batting deck,” he said. “So we’re confident there, we like the ground and they are a great opposition.”
Off the back of a one day match to finish the home and away season, Conte said he was also happy to be returning to the longer format of the game.
“We’re definitely a two day team so we’re looking forward to a two day game,” he said.
In other division 3 results, Werribee Centrals finished its season with its first win of the season.
Despite a final round win the Centrals were unable to avoid relegation.
On Saturday, the Centrals defeated Kingsville, which also finished the season with just one win.
The Centrals batted first and posted 8-197 from its 40 overs. Waqar Shah top scored with a quick fire 45 batting at eight.
In reply Kingsville could only reach 142 before it was bowled out in the 39th over.
Shah, Usman Ashraf and Rishan Hetti Hewa took two wickets each.
