HOPPERS Crossing is pondering what might have been after a hard-to-swallow 48-run loss to Yarraville Club in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division semi-final at Walker Oval.
The Cats shot themselves in the foot with three runouts in their chase for the Clubbers’ target of 252 and as a consequence were all out for 203.
Cats president Steve McNamara said it was the second time in as many games against the Clubbers this season that his side’s running between the wickets left a lot to be desired.
“Those three runouts killed us,” he said. “We haven’t had a lot of runouts during the year but they’ve twice cost us against Yarraville Club.”
The Clubbers won the toss and played to their strength by batting on the first day.
Rock-solid foundations to their score of 7-251 off 80 overs were laid by Justin Baker (25) and Kayne Meehan (11) with a 42-run opening partnership.
It was not until Michael O’Keefe (101 not out), one of the great batsmen in VTCA history, and in-form Anthony Cristofaro (43) combined for a 78-run stand that the Clubbers really got on top of the Cats’ attack.
O’Keefe, like so many times before, was the man of the moment with a downright gutsy performance.
Fawad Ahmed completed a remarkable season with 5-95 off 30 overs.
The leg spinner finished the summer with 58 wickets at 11.
“It’s a phenomenal season,” McNamara said. “He’s taken seven five-wicket hauls and taken down some of the best batsman in the competition.”
The Cats struggled for momentum in their chase and
three runouts left them in a critical condition on 8-123.
The Cats had one last bid for victory. The experienced heads of Peter Magafas and Trent Said, recognised batsmen throughout their careers, instilled an element of panic into the Clubbers with a 72-run ninth wicket stand to take the score to 9-202.
Magafas was removed for 55, effectively stranding Said on 37 not out. Moments later, Cats tailender Nigel Francis was out for a duck and the Clubbers were back to the big dance for the fourth successive summer, while the Cats were left to lick their wounds.
The four-day grand final will be between Yarraville Club and Beaumaris.
SEMI-FINAL SCORES:
Senior division: Yarraville Club 7-251 (MP O’Keefe 101no A Cristofaro 43 A Cullen 25 J Baker 25 F Ahmed 5-95 G McCallum 2-50) d Hoppers Crossing 203 (P Magafas 55 G McCallum 51 TG Said 37no ES Bronca 3-44).
Senior seconds: Hoppers Crossing 126 (AT Martin 60 D O’Connell 4-10 A Turner 3-34) d St. Bernard’s OC 79 (T Waring 5-19 D Carrington 2-15).
North A2: Taylors Lakes 7-176 (R Morgan 49 F Buttigieg 36 M Wilson 28) d Werribee Centrals 173 (L Shanley 3-46 M Wilson 2-21 S Haigh 2-35).
West B2: Seabrook 94 (J Singh 4-18 M Nolton 2-27 D Clarke 2-27) lt Altona Roosters 9-215 (N Weiman 46 J Sideris 26).
North C1: Hoppers Crossing 160 (G Mitchell 49 L Cannan 41 M Wright 32 J Coutts 3-16 M Henry 2-35 L Bassi 2-38 P Isabella 2-41) d Strathmore 113 (B Carey 32 G Mitchell 4-18 B Stuart 3-29 G Haw 2-12).
North C3: Yarraville Club 172 (A McGuinness 63 M Paull 26) lt Hoppers Crossing 5-176 (A Gabb 2-57).
