SJ Blues cricket club has busy month ahead as finals loom

MARCH will be a busy month for the SJ Blues cricket club, with two weeks of regular season remaining.

All four teams are guaranteed to be involved in the finals.

The most notable performance was from 1G side, which did not come into the competition until Round 7 and now sit in fourth place.

On Saturday, Second Grade tied up second spot with a comfortable win over Riverton-Rostrata.

SJ resumed at 2-34 chasing the hosts score of 150.

Solid contributions from Ryan Makarov (41), Dean Fulford (59) and Damien Leipold (55) allowed SJ to post 225 in reply.

Fifth Grade also recorded a comfortable home victory over Jandakot .

Chasing 252, the visitors made no effort to chase down their target, intent on occupying the crease and frustrating the SJ bowlers.

In very hot conditions, SJ stuck to the task and were rewarded by dismissing Jandakot for 114 in the 60th over.

Matt Hillyard (3-13) and Kim Mason (3-18) were the pick of the bowlers.

SJ were 1/56 at stumps.

An unexpected 36-run loss to the second bottom side was not what the SJ 1C team needed.

Sending Cannington into bat seemed to pay dividends with early wickets.

However, a middle order revival allowed the hosts to post a competitive total of 182.

The loss of three early wickets set SJ back and they never threatened their target.

Zaine Atwell (3-37 with the ball and 37 with the bat) and Sean Drysdale (4-28 and 29) were the best performers in a disappointing result.

The 1G side won by forfeit over Kelmscott, who turned up with only eight players.

The minimum number a team can start with is 7.

Despite this, Kelmscott chose to forfeit.

The 1G side then travelled back to Briggs Park and trained for the afternoon.

This Saturday , Second Grade host Kelmscott, Fifth Grade is away to Hilton-Palmyra, 1C is at home to Leeming Spartan and 1G take on Phoenix.

All games are now vital as teams vie for a top two finish and a home semi-final.