CALCULATORS were in demand last night as percentage determined Grassmere Cricket Association’s one-day cup finalists.
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After a dramatic double-header round of matches, Panmure inflicted fierce rival, defending premier Killarney’s, first loss of the season, to leap to the top of the table and secure a spot in next month’s one-day final.
But with third-placed Purnim winning both its games, including a tight affair against Wangoom yesterday, the Bulls, Panmure and Killarney were locked on the same five-win, one-loss records.
Officials last night revealed Killarney had edged out Purnim for the second spot in the December 14 showdown by just 0.22 percentage points.
Panmure captain Chris Bant was delighted with his side’s performance against the Crabs yesterday. The Bulldogs restricted Killarney to 9-166 despite Brendan Chatfield making 49 and Anthony Martin 45. Paddy Mahony took 4-31 and Tom Wright 3-19 for Panmure.
In reply, Bant, batting at number three, made an unbeaten 82, to lead Panmure to victory with six wickets and more than three overs to spare.
Bant said he was lucky to anchor the innings, having been dropped a couple of times. “I’m really happy with the result, the ground was quick but the first 20 overs was the best we’ve bowled for a couple of years,” he said.
Panmure’s Nathan Shand, Daniel Meade and Sam Mahony were miserly, keeping Killarney to 1-60 from 20 overs.
“We always try to rise to the occasion for big games,” Bant said.
“Yesterday (Saturday) was good to win, today was twice as much fun knocking them off. It’s a pretty good effort.”
Killarney coach Peter Hickey said his side was relieved to make the one-day final, lamenting a lack of runs.
“We thought we had a reasonable platform, a little bit behind where we wanted to be, but when we went to put the foot on the accelerator we lost multiple wickets,” he said.
“We thought 185 was par but 200 was the way they batted. We dropped a few catches which is disappointing.”
Killarney experienced the highs and lows of competitive cricket in the space of 24 hours. On Saturday, captain Joel Henry made a ton as the Crabs defeated Yambuk by 62 runs.
Purnim entrenched itself in the top three with two wins on the weekend, the first against Grassmere and the second against fourth-placed Wangoom yesterday.
Chasing Wangoom’s 150, which included 71 from Brett Tory, the Bulls finished at 8-182, thanks to 85 from Shaun Griffin.
In other games yesterday, veteran Steve Gleeson made 80 and Pat Sinnott 65 as Yambuk steamed to a seven-wicket win over Grassmere. Chasing 201, Gleeson, Sinnott and Colin Harwood with an unbeaten 38 ran down the imposing total.
Hawkesdale scored a crucial win yesterday over Mailors Flat, winning by 36 runs. That came after the Cats were defeated by Wangoom on Saturday, ensuring the race for fourth spot on the ladder remains tight between three sides, Wangoom, Yambuk and Hawkesdale.