WHEN South Mandurah and Pinjarra’s A-grade cricket sides clash this weekend, the task will be simple for both teams: win.
With one round to go in the regular season, South Mandurah sits in fifth position on the ladder, with Pinjarra less than two points ahead of them in fourth – the last finals spot.
Pinjarra come into the game with form, winning three out of their last four. These wins have put them in finals contention as they have been sitting at the bottom of the top four all season without finding themselves entrenched in the finals.
On the contrary, South Mandurah looked like they could finish on top five weeks ago, but three straight losses to Halls Head, Shoalwater Bay and White Knights Baldivis have pushed them out of the top four. With six points awarded to the winner, the victors of the game between these two sides will find themselves playing another week of cricket, while for the other, it will be the end.
South Mandurah and Pinjarra could jump into second if Shoalwater Bay has a big win over Halls Head and Singleton Irwinians lose to Warnbro.
Two points are also awarded for bowling the other side out, and 0.01 points are awarded for every run score. If a team was to score 200 runs, they would receive two points.
In an unlikely event, Singleton Irwinians could jump out of the four following a heavy loss, if the loser of Pinjarra or South Mandurah bowls the other side out and score enough runs.
Shoalwater Bay will now finish top, as they sit almost 11 points clear of Halls Head. Both these sides will clash this week in what could be a preview for the grand final on March 21. Even if Warnbro do defeat Singleton Irwinians, they will still remain in sixth as they are more than 20 points behind.
In other games, Waroona play White Knights Baldivis, which could see White Knights Baldivis move up to sixth or Waroona move off the bottom of the ladder.
Hillman play Mandurah, with Hillman looking to make sure they do not finish with the wooden spoon and Mandurah looking to move from eighth to sixth.
