Ferntree Gully's win costs Leongatha

LEONGATHA did practically everything it could do to be assured of a berth in the Victorian Country Week ‘Provincial’ division final in Melbourne on Friday. But it wasn't to be.

And ultimately, it was the team that cost them a final's berth on the first day, and again on Day 4, Ferntree Gully, who capped off a big week with the bat by winning the Provincial final against Mornington-Peninsula.

And, if it's any consolation to the Leongatha bowlers who came in for some tap on the first day last Monday, Ferntree Gully opener David Smyth 93 off 78 balls faced, and a few of his top order mates did pretty much the same to the MP bowlers in the final, setting them 7/340 off 50 overs, a winning performance if ever there was one.

But Leongatha gave themselves every chance to make the final after that first hiccup, easily protecting their place in the top division as one of the four top sides who all won three matches out of four in the qualifying rounds.

On Thursday, February 16, Leongatha soundly whipped the Latrobe Valley team at Croydon Park, with a stellar performance by Joel Brann, taking 5/12 off 10 overs, teaming with Tom Keily 2/15 off his 10 to despatch them for just 34.

But they had to wait and see if Bairnsdale could beat the strong Geelong team and if Ballarat could beat Ferntree Gully to win an unlikely, but not-without-hope, late callup for the final on Friday.

In fact, Bairnsdale (7/212) did the right thing and put in their best performance of the week to beat Geelong 176 but Ferntree Gully chased well to beat Ballarat who set them the worthy target of 5/246, So it was a Mornington-Peninsula versus Ferntree Gully final, but hardly what you'd expect of a so-called 'country week' competition.

Leongatha had won three out of its four games in the qualifying rounds but the damage was done on the first day, Monday, February 13, when they played the Ferntree Gully & District Cricket Association at Bayswater Park, virtually a home ground for the Ferntree Gully team, previously a venue in that association, and just a stone's throw down the road from their own ground.

In any case, the ground and the Leongatha bowling was very much to the liking of the locals’ opening batsman David Smyth, who won the association’s Lomax Medal in 2022, featuring in a devastating 154-run partnership with third-drop player, Nathan Walsh.

While Smyth made 144 off 104 balls faced he was ably matched by Walsh, 120 off 122 balls faced, to lead the team to an unassailable 4/353 off 50 overs.

In response, Leongatha could manage only 132 and it looked as if their week was over on Day One.

But they fought back valiantly over the next three days, especially on Day Two against the traditionally strong Ballarat association, led in superb style by Sahan Perera who anchored the good total of 9/204 with a fine knock of 88 off just 85 balls faced, Mitch Clark 36 figuring in a century opening stand with Perera and Dave Newman holding the tail together with 31 off 63.

From there it was mainly a containment exercise by Leongatha in the field with Town’s Mudassar Riaz leading the way to victory with 3/29 off his 10 as Ballarat made 176 with Sahan chipping in with the wicket of Ballarat opener, Sajith Dissanayaka, who looked a chance to lead his team home until he was bowled for 96 off 124 balls faced midway through the innings.

It was a crucial wicket in the scheme of things.

On Wednesday, Leongatha comfortably accounted for Bairnsdale with Mitch Clark 61 and Daniel Mock 47 the stars but also with Joel Brann taking 3/27 off seven in his first appearance for the week.

So, it has been a pretty good week for Leongatha at Country Week and they took time out, after theirt own win on Thursday to watch the Ballarat versus Ferntree Gully game to witness their own fate first hand

Ferntree Gully did it pretty easily in the end, getting the required runs four wickets down, still with almost five overs remaining.