By Tara Murray
A disappointing final round ended the Gisborne and District Cricket Association’s hopes of making finals at Melbourne Country week.
After losing on day one, the GDCA won its next two matches to give it hope of playing in one of the two finals.
It needed to win on Thursday and hope results when it way to qualify for the top final.
Instead on a slow track, the GDCA struggled against the Bellarine Peninsula.
Batting first, the GDCA was bowled out for 119 with Romsey’s Taylor Stevenson top scoring with 27 and Woodend skipper Marcus Stewart making 20.
The GDCA fought hard, but the Bellarine made the runs as it finished 5-120.
Gisborne’s Riley Vernon took 2-20 and Mark Barake took two catches and made a stumping.
It meant the GDCA finished in fifth spot.
“The boys leave knowing we are better than our 2-2 showing this year and are determined to take the div 2 title next year,” the association said on its Facebook page.
Among the highlights of the week included wins in the second and third matches.
In the second game, Stewart made a massive 152 not out against Wangaratta and District as the GDCA made 7-325.
Stewart’s innings included 14 fours and four sixes in what the association believes is the highest individual score by a GDCA player at country week.
Vernon made 50 and Wallan’s Nathan Fowler also made 50.
Wangaratta and District was bowled out for 135.
In game three, the GDCA bowled out Kingston Hawthorn for 107. Vernon took 3-19 to be the pick of the bowlers.
The GDCA made the runs in the 16th over, with Stevenson again top scoring with 27.
Sunbury United captain Damien Edwards was part of the squad and played in a couple of the games.
He said it was disappointing not to play finals, but it had been a really good experience,
“It was great to get to know some of the other players in the league,” he said. “To get together and share a beer and have some chats.
“There’s so many good crickets and plenty of people to learn from. We left our worst performance for the last game.
“Playing on turf was a big difference for us and we’re not used to those conditions. We’ll come back next year and have another crack.”
Others to play were Gareth Sharp, Ben Way, Chris Burkett, Thomas Boyer, Aaron Paterson, Harrison Sheahan, Xavier Tadd and Josh Wills.
