MORTLAKE captain-coach Todd Lamont is in the fortunate position of being able to worry about selection dramas after an outright win against Bookaar vaulted his side into the South West Cricket finals on Saturday.
Bookaar was rolled for just 48 runs in its first innings after winning the toss and Mortlake had no trouble compiling 9-143.
Saturday's action was almost a repeat of the previous weekend with Bookaar all out for 63 at D. C. Farran Oval.
The wickets were evenly shared with young medium-pacer Troy Schafer snaring four scalps and Lamont and Shane Slater chipping in with three each.
Only Clint Baker got to double figures (10) on Saturday and the top score was extras with 17 in a disappointing performance.
Lamont said the conditions suited the bowlers, with the ball moving around a fair bit.
"They lost Simon Baker in the second over and that was a big wicket for us," he said.
A steady flow of wickets saw Bookaar slump to 4-18, then 5-26 before eventually being all out for 48 off 30.5 overs.
Lamont said his side would be some chance against ladder leader Terang in next weekend's semi-final.
"Our bowling is all right, it's our batting that can be a bit of a worry. I'm sure if we can post a decent score we can defend it," he said.
"We need our top order to make runs, particularly opening bats Josh Barr and Corey Rounds, to give us a solid start."
Lamont admitted that it was only after the first day of the last home-and-away round he realised his side could jump into the finals with an outright win.
"Before this game I had not even thought about finals. Once we skittled them cheaply and I got on the computer Saturday night I realised an outright would get us straight in," he said.
"I hadn't looked at it ? didn't do the maths before the game. We lost a close game against them at the start of the year and I thought that would costs us. It was between us and them for that final spot."
The captain-coach said his side would have Lachie Barr back this week from wedding commitments and Nick Whiting was also expected to return to the senior line-up.
"But we might have a few selection dramas on Thursday night. I suppose it's a good problem to have," he said.
Noorat also confirmed its participation in the finals with a solid 63-run win against Port Campbell on Saturday.
Noorat posted 239 last week and Port Campbell resumed at 1-49, eventually being all out for 176. Andy Rylance top-scored with an unbeaten 67.
Ashley Price made 42 while Steve Staunton was the pick of the bowlers with 6-40 and bag man Warren Attrill claimed 2-48.
No play was possible in the top-of-the-table clash between Terang and Pomborneit.
Terang made 248 the previous week and Pombo was unable to resume at 0-7 after rain got under the covers on Friday night and moistened the pitch.
Camperdown (8-197) defeated Cobden (118) in a one-dayer last weekend which had no bearing on the finals.
SWC president Keith Baker said Terang would clash with Mortlake while Noorat will take on Pomborneit in the semi-finals next weekend, the games to be played on the Terang and Camperdown turf wickets. The executive will decide which games are played at which venues during the week.
Baker said Pombo would go into the finals as favourite after winning the past two SWC flags, but Terang had been impressive in finishing this season on top of the division one ladder.
"It should be a good even finals series. You have those two teams and Noorat is always a chance of turning it on. Mortlake also played well on Saturday and has a good young team," he said.
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