Dowling Shield reaches QFs

Pucovski’s South East Bayside Breakers easily accounted for Gippsland Pride to set up a mouthwatering clash with Inner South East Scorpions at the Under-16 Victorian Bushrangers Pathway Championships.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Breakers were in trouble early at 2-9 before Pucovski and Nick Suppree joined for a sensational 184-run partnership.

The loss of Suppree for 82 did nothing to stop the Breakers, who reached 4-234 with Pucovski unbeaten on 100 at the close of innings.

Gippsland was never in the hunt, losing regular wickets to fall 73 runs short of the Breakers’ imposing total.

However, all was not lost for the Pride, who still qualified for today’s quarter-finals against the Northern Rivers.

Inner East Emus take on the North West Wizards after a two-run victory over a determined Barwon Rockets.

At 7-67 chasing the Emus’ 6-214, the game looked a lost cause for the Rockets before a stunning eighth wicket partnership between Dominic Dare (88) and Samuel Plummer (52) began to threaten the target.

The dismissal of Dare made it 8-200, before Plummer departed just two shy of the target.

A run-out on the penultimate ball would see the Rockets fall short in what was one of the games of the tournament.

Earlier, Kudage-Don continued his excellent form at this year’s carnival with a magical 101, propelling him to second on the competition run-scorers’ list.

In the fourth quarter-final, Western Spirit take on Northern Falcons after both teams enjoyed comfortable victories on day three.

In the Under-14 Victorian Bushrangers Pathway Championships, 86 from South East Bayside Breaker Austin Heldt was enough to send his team through to today’s quarter-finals without a blemish to their name after a comfortable win over Gippsland.

The Breakers will tackle North East Knights, who advanced despite a narrow loss to Inner South East Scorpions.

Western Spirit easily accounted for fellow finals participant, Mallee Murray Bulls, while Northern Falcons won a tight clash against Central Highlands at Princes Park.

Today’s quarter-finals commence at 10am and you can follow the scores as they happen on the CV Pathway Facebook page and/or by following @CVPathway on Twitter.

To see full results from the Victorian Bushrangers Pathway Championships, click here.