BCA: Shock Knowles catch sets up sudden death round

A SHOCK winning catch, a heavy loss and a renewed finals contender have set up a blockbuster final round of Ballarat Cricket Association club firsts action.Ballarat-Redan locked in its top four status with a powerful nine-wicket victory against East Ballarat under a one-day format on Saturday.CLICK HERE to see more photos from the cricketEast can take small consolation in knowing Golden Point let slip a prime chance to move into the four this week.Brown Hill spoilt Point's party with Ballarat Electrical Bulls' captain Ryan Knowles capturing the catch off a Simon Lockyer delivery, that left Point an agonising four runs short on day two at Eastern Oval.That result has given the Bulls an unexpected slimmest chance of playing finals if other matches fall their way.That catch has forced East Ballarat and Golden Point into a final round showdown.The Hawks must regroup after falling prey to a dominant all-round Combine performance at Ballarat Secondary College East Campus.A balanced Combine bowling attack contained the Hawks to 119 runs _ Jarrod Allan, Simon Allan, Chris Egan and Cam Landry each taking two wickets.The Hawks looked rocky from the outset, down 5-32 within 12 overs, until Rob Ryan stepped in to make 53 not out (2 sixes, 7 fours).Combine opener David Sproules replied with an unbeaten 74 runs (1 six, 13 fours) to guide his team to a swift victory.Ballarat-Redan playing coach Shane Skontra was pleased with the all-round team effort."We didn't expect to win comfortably but we just bowled really well and that set it up,"Skontra said.Skontra was pleased to get some solid runs into his top order leading into finals and hoped his team would consolidate in a two-day hit-out against Napoleons-Sebastopol, starting next week.* BROWN Hill captain Ryan Knowles' winning catch might have dealt Golden Point a hard blow but Point did not make play easy on itself either.Point openers Brad Palmer (22 runs) and Lachie Anderson (29) resumed the 166-run chase at 0-21.Once Palmer fell at 1-55, the top order crumbled and Point lost three wickets for 13 runs.Then the Bulls chipped away.Point's lower order lacked firepower and the Bulls capitalised with an abundance of maidens.Simon Ogilvie put on an honourable 27 runs and, in a few intense overs, both teams looked set to tie again this season.The Bulls' attack shared it wickets with Peter Kane taking a lean 3-12 and five maidens off nine overs.* A CAPTAIN'S knock made sure Darley did not fall Coronet City's first victim.Lion skipper Allan Steenholdt's unbeaten 104 emphatically stamped out City's chances and guided the Lions to a five-wicket victory at Ballarat Grammar.City had 248 runs on the board, which the Lions met in 61 overs.The Lions resumed at 1-17 and young opener Ryan Pawczynski steadied the campaign with a solid 32 runs.Lacklustre City bowling let the Lions creep into contention _ that was when Steenholdt seized control.His 104 runs comprised 15 fours and one five and encouraged number six bat Lachie Herring to have a fair swing at the ball.Herring made 74 runs (2 sixes, 9 fours) and teamed-up with his captain in a 154-run stand at the fifth wicket.City shared its wickets about with acting captain Matt Wheeler and Phil Calvert claiming two apiece.* MOUNTIE Rhett Ovens chipped off North Ballarat batsmen one-by-one in a seven-wicket haul at the University of Ballarat.The Roosters were bowled out for 126 with Peter Cartledge unable to bat with a hand injury.Mt Clear, with a 362-run tally, enforced the follow-on with about two hours to attempt an unlikely outright.The Roosters stood stronger in the second innings, posting 4-171 in 36 overs.Ovens bowled three overs , including two maidens, despite taking 7-55 off 16 overs.Roosters openers James Winnard (44 runs) and Tom Geddes (28) launched the second innings with a 56-run partnership.Then captain Dan Hopkinson wound up to belt an unbeaten 44 runs.* AS EXPECTED, Wendouree finished batting out its innings with little fanfare.The Red Caps had already claimed first innings points against Napoleons-Sebastopol on day one and, clear top of the ladder with a state Twenty20 final to follow, were in no rush to muster up another outright.They posted 204 runs at Napoleons then Naps' 16-year-old Ben Trew anchored his team to a better second innings with an unbeaten 56 runs.Trew's tally took Naps to 2-75 at stumps.Interest peaked when Eamon Johnson lined-up on a hat-trick to re-open the Red Caps' bowling.Johnson nabbed two consecutive wickets to finish Naps' first innings last week.He started the second with a dot ball then wicket on his second delivery.Naps paceman Ash Ringin earlier continued his good form to claim 2-17 and seven maidens off a 14 over spell and take his innings tally to 6-38.Team-mate Danny Carroll earlier chipped in three wickets.