AN unbeaten century by Nestles opener Geoff Williams threatens to derail Dennington’s semi-finals hopes as the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association (WDCA) regular season reaches a dramatic climax this Saturday.

Williams carried his bat for an even 100 as the out of contention Factory set second-placed Dennington 191 on a challenging pitch.

While all the intrigue entering the first day of the final round of division one matches had centred on the Merri conference, where four teams are fighting for one spot, Dennington was seemingly bound to claim second in the Hopkins conference, sitting a game clear of third-placed Merrivale.

But with Williams holding bottom-side Nestles’ innings together and Merrivale seemingly in with a chance to defeat ladder-leader Allansford (216), both games are heading for tense finishes this Saturday.

Williams had his own tense moments as he reached the fifth division one ton of his career with the last run of his side’s innings.

He was on 98 when number 11 Jacob Threlfall, who averages 2.43, strode to the wicket. Threlfall survived nine balls in consecutive overs as Williams attempted to bring up the century. Williams hit the ball to a fieldsman as Threlfall haired off for a single only to be sent back by the senior partner. The throw at the stumps at the bowler’s end missed as Williams got the run via an overthrow.

“I had no idea about the ladder,” Williams said.

“If Merrivale win and Dennington lose to us, Merrivale get in.

“One hundred and ninety is a fantastic total. It is something we can defend. There are plenty of bowlers in our team.

“Dustin Drew (Denning-ton co-captain) is obviously the key wicket. We’ve beaten them twice this season in Twenty20 and one-day.”

Merrivale will need to bat well when it chases Allansford’s 216 to have any chance of extending its season. Allansford had Gault McCluggage to thank after he made 54 at a crucial stage of the innings. His side was 4-79 before he and Brad Sheen (31) combined for an 83-run fifth-wicket stand.

McCluggage’s dismissal sparked a loss of 4-7 before some late runs to Ben Boyd (18) and Justin Fary (16 not out) took the score beyond 200.

In the Merri conference, East Warrnambool-YCW (8-231) has thrown open the race for a top-two spot, setting second-placed Port Fairy a challenging run chase. Port Fairy only has to win to claim a semi-final spot, but for the second game in a row it failed to dismiss an opponent.

If East manages to beat Port Fairy on Saturday, it could leap from fifth to second if other results go its way.

Bottom-side West Warrnambool holds the key to the Broncos’ semi-final hopes. East needs West to upset third-placed Russells Creek and top side Woodford to defeat fourth-placed Wesley-CBC.

Woodford is in the box seat in its match after coach John Houston carried his bat for an unbeaten 59 as it reached 9-194. But West Warrnambool is six wickets away from an unlikely victory over Creek.

Creek veteran Paul Walker produced his most damaging spell of the season to destroy the Panthers’ line-up on a good batting pitch at Jetty Flat. Walker took 6-21 as Creek dismissed West Warrnambool for 110 after being 7-48. But Panthers veteran Simon Johnson kept his side in the match with an unbeaten 36 and then claimed two late wickets as Creek limped to stumps at 4-36.

West skipper Alastair Templeton said his side was a chance.

“They have a fair bit of batting depth down there to come,” he said.

“I still think we need to keep putting the pressure on. It was a day of collapses. They lost 3-0 and we were 7-48 on a really good batting pitch, a road.

“I think we need another one or two early wickets but I don’t think 110 is enough. We were 7-48 and made it to 110. But if we bowl well and field well it might be.”

The dead rubber between Hopkins conference’s Brierly-Christ Church (fourth) and Nirranda (fifth) is evenly poised after Nirranda made 152. The Bulls resume at 3-55 on Saturday.