CRICKET
CLV
By LIAM DURKIN
JUST four teams are left standing in the Cricket Latrobe Valley Twenty20 competition.
Moe, Churchill, Ex Students and Willow Grove will play semi-finals in the new year to determine this season’s finalists.
Quarter finals were played Tuesday, December 16.
CHURCHILL won a thriller off the last ball.
Needing 121 against Morwell, Cobra leaders Ryan Harvey and Ryan Ayres held their nerve. Harvey got off strike on ball four, paving the way for Ayres to find the rope, before the pair scampered a three to sneak home.
Earlier in the night, the Tigers were led by Blair Clymo, who made 37. Spinner Ross Johnson ended with 3/30 for Churchill, while Harvey took 2/14.
Ayres was 41 not out when the winning runs were hit. Ben Kearns (31) and Jordan Higham (30) also contributed greatly at Andrews Park West.
Tim Ford gave little away, even bowling a maiden in his 2/9 off four maximum overs.
MOE defeated Traralgon West at Burrage.
The Lions easily accounted for the Eagles, making a score of 127 appear greater than perhaps it was.
All of the Moe top order reached double figures, with opener Chris Robinson the best of the lot with 28 off 18 balls.
‘Robo’ hit four fours and a six, against a balanced attack that saw five bowlers take wickets.
Hayden Kimpton finished with 2/19 and Brenton Howe and Alfie Peck both took 2/20.
The Traralgon West innings quickly fell apart after the third wicket fell with the score on 30. From there, it wasn’t too long before a score of 7/61 was showing.
Callum Grant (2/7), Robert Blunt (2/11), Ben Zomer (2/11) and youngster Brady Cake (2/16) all helped.
EX STUDENTS had too many runs for Imperials.
Batting first at Terry Hunter Oval, the home side compiled 9/166.
The rate stayed above a run-a-ball for the most part, with Jake Zappulla (54 off 26) and Rick Battista (48 not out off 42) doing most of the damage.
Charlie Pilling left the venue with 2/21.
Lewis Blake did his best to get Imperials to victory with 53 off 46, but the equation soon became mathematically improbable.
Zac Bastin (4/22) and Adam Brady (2/29) combined youth and experience to claim six wickets between them.
WILLOW GROVE took one step closer to a historic final.
The Wolves chased 104 against Rovers six down.
Ewan Williams did virtually all the scoring for the home side at Duncan Cameron, making 47 off just 29 rocks.
Batsmen two to nine however all registered single figure scores.
Anthony Wilkes (3/20), Luke Payton (3/21) and Ben Edebohls (2/27) ensured wickets fell at regular intervals.
Willow Grove then got the winning runs away in the 18th over.
Payton top-scored with 40 off 28 (three bombs), while Edebohls made a run-a-ball 25.
Rovers veteran Simon Duff took 3/15.
