Avenel caused an upset with a thrilling two run win over Pyalong in a reduced-over match.
With both bat and ball it was Travis Stefanos who did the damage for Avenel.
Stefanos batted through Avenel’s entire innings to finish 62 not out, while no other Avenel batter passed 12.
This was largely due to Alex Ryan (3-22) who picked up some critical middle order wickets before Mitch Wittig (4-23) cleaned up the tail.
Avenel got regular wickets in Pyalong’s run chase, Stefanos picking up three and both Chayse and Andrew Thomson taking two.
Pyalong was reduced to 7-58 and despite the best efforts of Joseph Ryan who finished on 23 not out, they were unable to get over the line.
Pyalong now slips to fifth with their finals hopes out of their hands ahead of a bye in the last round.
Yea Tigers 6-103 (J Christie 43, B Hardinge 22, L Deeble 3-9, C Crabbe 2-19) def Puckapunyal 9-101 (J Baker 17, C Crabbe 15, C Blake 2-6, A Butterworth 2-11)
Puckapunyal batted first at Yea and got off to a solid start before Andrew Butterworth claimed the key wicket of Charles Davies.
Across a tight spell of 2-11 off eight overs Butterworth slowed Puckapunyal down with both Ethan and Craig Blake also taking multiple wickets.
Joel Baker with 17 and Christopher Crabbe with 15 were the pick of Puckapunyal’s batters.
In Yea’s run chase it was Jack Christie who stole the show, smashing 43 off 33 balls with seven fours and one six.
Biron Hardinge also got the runs ticking over before Lachlan Deeble (3-9) caused some temporary chaos.
Yea was still able to get over the line with four wickets left in the shed in the 18th over.
Alexandra 99 (S Whitehead 21, W Ashton 21, K Winnell 4-12, T Dundon 3-18) def Tallarook 8-96 (L Watts 37, J Rudge 23, J Leary 3-14, W Ashton 2-19)
Alexandra batted first after a delayed start with Scott Whitehead commencing the innings with positivity.
Kal Winnell (4-12) and Tarkyn Dundon (3-18) continued their strong seasons with Will Ashton and Matthew Wal putting together a critical lower order partnership to get Alexandra to a score of 99.
Both Josh Rudge (23) and Lachlan Watts (37) put together solid innings for Tallarook but it was not enough as Alexandra caused an upset.
Justin Leary picked up three key wickets while Will Ashton claimed a couple as Tallarook fell three runs short.
Alexandra now sits in the top four and can remain there if they beat Seymour in the final round.
Atmos Renewables B Grade
Tallarook 5-117 (K Minter 44, S Manchester 31, J Ferrier 3-15) def Alexandra 115 (L Ronalds 46, F Melville 4-22, B O’Donnell 2-15)
Yea Tigers 45 (P Clue 17, B Kingston 4-15, P Brennan 3-30) def by Puckapunyal (P Brennan 33, S Chisholm 15, Z Mills 4-16, R Daniel 2-29)
Pyalong 9-172 (P Dugard 35, D Clark 23no) def by Avenel 5-173 (D Zoch 2/20)
Junior Finals
Under 13s - Saturday, March 7, 8:30am
Tallarook v Seymour at Tallarook
Alexandra v Yea at Alexandra
Under 16s - Sunday, March 8, 9:30am
Seymour v Yea at Seymour
Avenel v Pyalong at Avenel
18°C