Rolling it over: Wantirna South's Cameron Smith bowls against Ainslie Park on Saturday. Picture: Sam Stiglec
GET Mark Arnot out and the rest will follow.
Wantirna South's game plan will be a simple one heading into its RDCA Lindsay Trollope Shield elimination final against Ainslie Park at Ainslie Park Reserve this weekend.
The two faced each other in the final round on Saturday, the Parkers winning by two wickets and earning home ground advantage for the elimination final.
Chasing Wantirna South's 9-203, Ainslie Park lost 3-26 early before a fourth wicket partnership of 84 between Trent Sier (84) and Brad Wadsworth (26) pushed the score to 110.
Devils star Drew McKay (6-64) then steamrolled Ainslie's middle order as they collapsed to 8-129.
The game turned again when Parkers captain-coach Mark Arnot (54 not out) and Scott Panozza (24 not out) shared in a ninth-wicket partnership of 87 to see the Parkers through to 8-206 in the second-last over.
Devils captain Matt King said his side had to focus on batting well against Arnot and claiming him cheaply as he had made two 50s against them this season.
"He seems the key for them, we have to stop him with the ball and get him our cheaply — if we do that it will go along way towards winning because the rest of their side seems to play very well off him."
King said he was disappointed to lose to the Parkers heading into the finals but wasn't as disappointed to play on the lightning fast Ainslie Park Reserve outfield.
North Ringwood enters the finals on three straight losses, but coach Jeton Rexhepi isn't worried at all.
The Bulls, who locked in a top-two berth before the defeats, will get the chance to test themselves against minor premiers South Croydon in the qualifying final this weekend with the loser getting the double chance, and the winner going straight into the grand final.
Rexhepi said his side was ready for the finals despite its recent losses.
"South Croydon is an awesome team; they're more akin to a lower grade Premier Cricket side with the talent they have.
"At this standard, it's more of a mental battle than a physical one. They have a couple of gun players and we have to stand up to them."
Despite Mooroolbark defending a modest 139 in the final round on Saturday, North Ringwood's batting line-up couldn't handle the bowling of Matt Whittaker (6-14) and Daniel Dimitriou (3-18), being dismissed for a disappointing 77.
Bayswater Park defended 203 when Warranwood was dismissed for 173.
Losing two early wickets put the Sharks on the back foot before a third-wicket partnership took the score to 70. Stephen Cragie (6-40) then upset the applecart, reducing Warranwood to 9-123 before Andrew Spittle (45 not out) and Matt Nelson (20) put on 50 for the last wicket.
Croydon North finished on 9-203 chasing South Warrandyte's 197 with the loss consigning them to relegation. Norwood was never in contention chasing South Croydon's 8-256 as they declared at 9-147 but couldn't get any more Bulldogs wickets.