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The second day of the two-day round of cricket took place on Saturday with three Tatura teams going on to record good wins, the exception being the most important one, A-grade, which lost a cliffhanger against Mooroopna.

In A-grade Mooroopna resumed at 3-39 chasing Tatura’s 156. The game was a tense encounter with the atmosphere of a final. The Tatura frontline bowlers Chris McCallum, Justin Connors and Bryan Doyle bowled tightly and made steady inroads into the Mooroopna batting. When Mooroopna struggled to 8-124, with McCallum on a hat-trick, victory was well within Tatura’s grasp. Mooroopna’s Rick Helman continued to defy the bowling, but the outcome was still in the balance when the ninth wicket fell with the scores level. Unfortunately, it was the end of the over and the new batsman did not have to face the bowling. Helman pushed the score to 172, giving Mooroopna a narrow win and a place in the four at Tatura’s expense. McCallum and Doyle both put in marathon performances with the ball, turning in their best bowling performances for the year. McCallum took 5-58 from 23 lively overs that included six maidens, and Doyle took 4-42 from 23.3 overs that included 11 maidens. Justin Connors, with 1-30, was the other successful bowler. Tatura has now lost its place in the four but still has a mathematical chance of making the finals if it wins its remaining match and Mooroopna loses its last two games — a possibility given it plays teams in the top three and Tatura plays the second-bottom side.

B-grade resumed at 0-27 at Tatura Park chasing Numurkah’s 184 with Josh Rankin and Luke Stubbington at the crease. Rankin, who has had an indifferent season, proceeded to demonstrate his status a one of the club’s best players, going on to make a commanding 91 and completing a man-of-the-match performance after his five-wicket haul in the Numurkah innings. The home side accumulated runs steadily through a series of good partnerships, cruising to a comfortable win when the innings finished at 239. Rohan Forster continued his consistent form to be last man out for 52. Jim Pyke contributed 26, Luke Stubbington 14 and junior Michael Donaldson 10, and featured in a partnership of 45 with Forster.

The C-grade game resumed with Pine Lodge 2-54 chasing Tatura’s 228. The Tatura bowlers quickly gained the ascendancy, and with a regular fall of wickets the home side was all out for 163 leaving Tatura with a first innings lead of 65. Gary Dealy again was the outstanding performer with 5-26 from 12 overs. Young Jess Petherick continued to demonstrate his potential with 3-16 and Will Hemming and Tom Devine each took one wicket.

In its second innings, Tatura went for quick runs to try to set up an outright win, declaring the innings closed at 7-93. Nick Rijs made 14, Graham Ballis 36 and the irrepressible Dealy 16.

The 20 overs remaining in the match was not enough for Tatura to bowl out the opposition a second time and it had to be content with a first innings win. Pine Lodge finished at 5-77. Xavier Dowell and Rijs each took a wicket, and Dealy took 2-12 to finish the match with a total of 94 runs, seven wickets and a catch.

D-grade resumed its game against Toolamba at Howley Oval 2 in a sound position at 5-139 chasing 160. Sean Ryan played a captain’s innings with 63 and with the assistance of Clinton Sharkey, 28, and junior Angus Eaton, 10, took the Tatura score to 212, a lead of 52.

Batting a second time, the visitors were soon in trouble and were bowled out for 124. Jordan Crisp was the destroyer with 4-40 from 15 overs, with good support from Ash Dowell, 2-23, Sean Ryan, 2-19, and Sharkey 1-13. Tatura was left with an hour to make 72 runs for an outright win. Michael Archer (11) and Jack O’Toole established a sound base for the run chase with a partnership of 31. O’Toole then cut loose thrashing the ball to all parts of the ground and beyond to make 65 not out, including six fours and four sixes. Crisp, 12, held up the other end enabling Tatura to finish at 2-90 and an outright win.

Junior cricket

Tatura Under 12As, playing Kialla Knights, resumed in a strong position and went on to make 9-256. Will Pyke played a captain’s knock with 48. He was ably supported by Callum Minutoli, 31, Harry Powell, 26, Josh Scrimizzi, 29, and a sizeable 73 extras.

The Tatura score proved to be well out of reach for the home side, which finished at 8-118. Powell finished with 2-8, Sean McAllister 2-11 and Dylan Rowney 1-12, and there were three run outs.

Tatura remains in contention for a finals berth.

The Under 12B team continued its game against the strong Notre Dame/St Brendan’s team in Shepparton, where the home side was untroubled to make 132 without loss from its second allotment of 22 overs. The young Tatura team did well to make 101 from its 22 overs, with captain Liam Ryan making an impressive 26 not out. Cooper Daniels retired not out on nine and Blake Bloom made nine. The home side were comfortable winners.

The Under 14 team had a bye.