Rockingham-Mandurah will look to open up the cracks they made in Melville’s batting order when the WA Premier Cricket Round eight match resumes this Saturday at Lark Hill.
The Mariners can close in on the top six before Christmas with a sharp bowling display in the first session of day two.
The home side batted first and were rollicking along at 2/120, courtesy of Ed Pollock’s rapid-fire 60.
He smoked five sixes and four boundaries from just 40 balls and put on 70 for the third wicket with Aaron Burrage.
However, Rockingham-Mandurah gave up the ascendency when Nathan Hutchison (30) departed at 6/175 to fold for 210, from just 56 overs, when a score beyond 250 looked attainable.
Melville held the whip hand at 2/95 just before stumps before Burrage intervened with the ball in the nick of time.
The all-rounder bowled Tom Scollay (23) and found the edge of Matt Wiley’s bat (17) through to wicketkeeper Kane Standing to inject the Mariners back into the contest, leaving Melviile at 4/116.
Rockingham-Mandurah will also get a boost from the colts making the final for the first time in the club’s history.
The Mariners defeated Mt Lawley by eight wickets in the first final before hanging on against Gosnells in a Twenty20 knock-out Sunday at Breckler Park.
Nathan Hutchison bludgeoned 51 from 32 deliveries after taking 1/9 in three overs, as home club Mt Lawley made 6/126, the Mariners careering to victory with 22 balls to spare.
In the preliminary final against Gosnells, Rockingham-Mandurah posted 132 as Burrage’s 31 lead the double-figure contributions from another five colts.
The young gun bowled tightly at the end to take 1/12 from three overs as Hutchison (2/24) and Sam Day (2/27) made things difficult for the Hawks throughout.
Gosnells were within touch nearing the end but with the Mariners holding their nerve, finished at 8/128.
Rockingham-Mandurah now progress to the 21 January final against South Perth at Fletcher Park.
Tyler Robertson snared 4/62 in the second grade match at Tompkins Park as Melville was bowled out for 208.
At stumps, the Mariners were not making a good fist of the reply at 3/25 from 19 overs.
Third grade are staring down the barrel of outright defeat after being bundled out for 95 at Lark Hill.
Melville are in a dominant position, finishing the day at 5/191 as Nathan Howell took 2/48 for the hosts.
Melville’s fourth grade posted 7/226 in a tight first day at Tompkins Park. Jack Richards was the pick of the Mariners bowlers to claim 3/28 in 8 overs.
The B grade women went down by 17 runs at Lark Hill in the T20 match against South Perth.
The visitors batted first and scored 4/81.
Runs continued to be at a premium in the Mariners innings, finishing at 9/64. Sonia Yadav was the pick of the Rockingham-Mandurah players with 1/12 from her full allotment of four overs before leading the scoring with 14 not out.
The juniors had a superb weekend as the Under 13s and Under 14s registered comfortable wins against Perth and the Under 15s and Under 17s lead the way against Melville.
Teague Wyllie starred in the Under 14s taking 3/27 in Perth’s total of 9/130 before striking 72 as Rockingham-Mandurah finished with the points at 6/170.
The Under 13s steamrolled the Demons at Fletcher Park by 116 runs as Corey Wasley’s 47 and Jonah Lincoln’s 29 underpinned the visitors’ 7/175.
The Mariners completely dried up Perth’s response allowing just 9/59 in 38 overs with 15 maidens bowled by eight bowlers.
Kai Harrison’s 79 made up nearly half of Rockingham-Mandurah’s 164 in the Under 17s match against the Storm at Lark Hill.
The opener has been instrumental with bat and ball recently and struck nine fours in his 152 ball vigil.
Melville’s Under 15s mustered up 9/120 as Caleb Langan lead the way for Rockingham-Mandurah with 2/17.
He bowled 10 overs at the head of the order with five maidens and had support with two wickets each to Corey Wasley and Matthew Boyd.
