Peel Cricket Association: Top four set for finals openers

The top four sides did enough to book their post-season spots a week early, with last round just a formality with sides jostling for position within the four.

They’ve all shown their capabilities throughout the year, but who has the upper hand?

South Mandurah have stormed into the finals on the back of an eight-game winning streak, and won 12 of their last 14 matches in the regular season.

They started with losses in their first four games, and turned it around miraculously to finish the season with just six losses in total.

But it’s hard to pin their rise on just one player.

Brad Holmes has been strong with both the bat and ball across their winning span, while Matt Hill, Jesse Buck, Nick Scholl and Michael Holmes have also starred.

Just last weekend Rod Tregenza belted out a century.

They’re easily the form side of the competition, but do South Mandurah have what it takes to go all the way?

Waroona and Singleton have resided in first and second spot respectively throughout the majority of the PCA year, after the two faced off in last year’s grand final 

Ben Wright, Nic Rep and Jayden Derosa lead a deadly batting line-up for the Warriors, and have been in fantastic form nearing the pointy end of the season as Waroona clinched top spot and 15 wins out of its 18 games.

Singleton on the other hand suffered a pair of losses in their past three games, going down to fellow top four heavyweights Mandurah and Waroona.

But the Irwinians remain a class outfit, and like the Warriors they could book a grand final berth with a win this weekend.

Mandurah finished with 11 wins and seven losses on the 2017/18 regular season, and only just fell to fourth in the final round with a loss to the top-spot Warriors.

It’s funny to call them the underdog considering they were part of the top three for the majority of the year, but given the red-hot form of South Mandurah they find themselves entering the finals with the lowest ladder position.

But it was just three weeks ago that Mandurah took down Singleton, and there’s no doubt they are good enough to win.

They’ll need a fair effort to oust the Falcons when they face this weekend.

Waroona v Singleton

South Mandurah v Mandurah