By Tara Murray
Point Cook Centrals and Gellibrand got to know each other pretty well last week, with the Sharks taking the honours not once but twice.
The two sides faced each other the past two Saturdays in their Victorian Turf Cricket Association Roy Picone Shield.
Thrown in the middle was the knockout round of 16 T20 clash, having also been drawn to face each other.
Sharks vice-president Brett Talbot said it was a weird situation.
“It’s been tough the last couple of times that we’ve played them, so it was nice to get the win,” he said.
“To play the same side in the midweek game as well. It was nice to get over them there as well.”
In their Roy Picone Shield match, the Sharks made 290 on day one of the match.
Talbot said the boys executed their plans really well and didn’t force it.
He said it was a nice score to have on the board.
Talbot said they were wary of what Gellibrand could do.
“They are one of only a handful of sides that could chase it down,” he said. “For the first time in a while we were able to get early wickets.
“We were in control at all the breaks and we managed to finish it off in the 80 overs.”
Gellibrand was restricted to 215, bowled out in the 74th over.
Owen Doolan took four wickets, while Krishan Alang took three wickets.
With two rounds remaining, the Sharks sit in third spot, only a game off top spot.
Talbot said they set some goals when they were prompted into division 3 and they were on track at this stage.
He said they would love to finish top two and get a home final.
“We wanted to make finals, but we are not there yet,” he said. “We have two tough games left.
“It’s great recognition for the club and we’re very proud of that. We would love to play a home final.
“We still have a couple of games to win and whatever happens, we’ll take a positive mindset.”
In the T20 match on Thursday night, Gellibrand made 9-119 from its overs with Callum Doyle top scoring with 64.
Max Pritchard took three wickets for the Sharks.
After losing a wicket without a run on the board, the Sharks did it with ease, finishing 2-120.
Mayank Sharma made 62 not out off 41 balls.
The Sharks will be in action on Tuesday night in the T20 competition against Deer Park.
Talbot said it was a bit crazy to be facing the side that won last year’s senior division.
All the other teams left in the last eight are in senior division and division 1.
“Its been a great achievement so far,” he said. “We’ll go out and have fun.
“They are a wonderful team. We go out there with a shot.”
In other Roy Picone Shield matches, Point Cook suffered a big loss to Moonee Valley.
Point Cook was bowled out for 98 in reply to 154.
In the Evans-Clark Shield, Bellbridge upset Melton South Royals to cement a spot in the top four, while Werribee Centrals lost to Footscray Angliss.
In the Russell Pollock Shield, Wyndham Vale lost outright to Burnside Springs United.
