By JARROD POTTER
DREAMS of playing on the MCG will have to wait another year for Springvale South after the DDCA powerhouse was bundled out of the race to the Cricket Victoria Regional Big Bash championship.
The Bloods’ campaign ended with a Victorian top-eight finish after falling 20 runs short of Mornington Peninsula powerhouse Sorrento last Sunday.
Springvale South couldn’t stop the likes of opposing captain Corey Harris (32) and Robert Wilson (32) getting off the leash early as the Sharks’ tandem belted a few sixes over the fence in the adjoining Springvale Light Steamers track.
Its 43-run stand was brought to an end by Craig Berger (1/22) and from there the scoring chances dried up for the visitors, but similar problems plagued the Bloods’ knock.
Michael Vandort (20) and Nathan King (23) were the Bloods’ best as the Sharks mauled the middle order.
“It wasn’t conducive to batting – the wicket, dare I say it, it wasn’t conducive for stroke playing which in a twenty20 game you’d expect it to be,” Bloods captain Craig Slocombe said.
“They tightened things up and were ahead of the run rate, of course, but at the end of the day they worked out the conditions.
“Slow conditions slowed the ball up and made it hard to score and field.
“We played a few rash shots and they had just a few older heads that prevailed.
“I think we were pretty even with them but it just wasn’t our day.”
Sorrento will play Tallangatta in the Melbourne Stars Conference final for a chance to play on the MCG on Thursday 25 February against the winner of the Renegades’ final – Doutta Stars or Gisbourne Dragons.
