By Tara Murray
Jacana will enter the Victorian Turf Cricket Association Russell Pollock Shield division 5 finals on the back of two straight wins.
The Jaguars sealed fourth spot and place in the finals by defeating Barkly Street Uniting.
Both sides entered the last round wanting that last finals spot, with the Jaguars that coming out on top.
The Jaguars had made 145 on day one, with Uniting resuming at 8-68.
It didn’t take long for the Jaguars to claim the last two wickets and first-innings points. They bowled Uniting out for 78.
Jaguars captain Brett Jensen said it was a good win.
“It wasn’t an easy pitch to bat on,” he said. “If you looked at 145, we would have wanted a few more runs, but we thought it would be good enough.”
The Jaguars, on the back of 103 from Kasun Mahela, in their second innings made a reverse outright impossible by finishing 1-143.
Mahela hit nine fours and seven sixes, with Jensen saying the innings came off just 12 overs.
Jensen said Mahela was one of the players hitting form at the right time for the Jaguars.
“Kasun hit an 80 a couple of weeks ago, too,” he said.
“Rhys Brown took six wickets and has been bowling well and Sameera [Vithana] has been in good form all year.”
The Jaguars will face minor premiers Melton Centrals this weekend for a spot in the grand final.
Jensen said they gave themselves every chance of getting through to the final game of the season.
“Looking at the side we had, if we didn’t play finals we would have been disappointed,” he said.
“Nothing changes on the weekend … we have a chance to win.
“If we perform our best, we can beat anyone.”
Some of the other Jacana sides have been tasting success.
On Sunday, the Glenn Scarborough Shield and Musgrove Shield teams claimed premierships.
For the Musgrove Shield side in the North West Metropolitan Cricket Association, the premiership was the second in a row.
The Jaguars’ T20 side also made it through to the NWMCA T20 grand final.
While there’s plenty of finals joy for Jacana, it’s a case of disappointment for Westmeadows in VTCA division 1 north.
Sitting third heading into the final round, the Warriors slipped to fifth on the back of a reverse outright loss.
Having claimed first innings points, the Warriors needed 151 in their second innings for an outright win.
They crumbled and were all out for 94.
With PEGS and Haig Fawkner claiming outright wins, the Warriors slipped from the finals.
Craigieburn ended its season with an outright loss to Haig Fawkner. The Eagles finished the season seventh.
In division 1 west, Greenvale Kangaroos defeated Tullamarine.
The Demons had made 119 on day one, with the Kangaroos getting the runs easily, finishing 6-147.
The Demons finished the season in fifth, while the Kangaroos finished in seventh.
MORE VTCA NEWS
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/backs-to-the-wall-werribee-centrals-get-the-job-done/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/minor-miracle-for-sydenham-hillside/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/keilor-cruises-into-finals/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/sunshine-united-through-to-finals/
