Fog plays havoc with matches

By Keith Thompson, YVCA secretary
DAY one of the final home and away round for the 2009/10 season began with overcast skies. Conditions at some venues were more like and English cricket season with a heavy mist hanging in the air. This caused play to cease early in many cases, and some games were not even started.
The D. J. Strachan Shield competition still has final four places up for grabs as Woori Yallock had home side Gruyere District 3/89, with Aaron Violi undefeated on 32 and B. Hayes 1/12 when play ceased.
At Yarra Junction the home side batted first and was 2/60, with Daniel Lever claiming half the tally, not out on 30. Both wickets to fall were taken by Coldstream’s A. Kuruppuarachahi at the cost of 28 runs.
In the profile match of the round at Queens Park between Healesville and Warburton, Healesville with their Team of the Century weekend of celebration were in full swing. Healesville are 2/47 off 18 overs vs Warburton.
Seville playing for fourth place got almost a full day of play at Hoddles Creek and was 8/306 at stumps with John Pignataro making his second century for the season assisted by Andrew Kay with 77.
In the R. A. Finger Trophy the Warburton/Wandin match at Warburton was washed out.
Coldstream was 4/63 at home to Seville with P. McArdle 31, Andrew Dipietro 2/21, Roger Oates 1/4 and Matt Walker 1/19 when play was halted.
In the C Grade 1 competition the Kinglake/Gruyere District match was cancelled due to rain and fog.
Mount Evelyn was 3/57 against Hoddles Creek with Ian Hawkey 31 not out and Ferguson 1/5.
Next Saturday will see some interesting cricket with a number of matches to continue on from day one and those not able to do this will commence a one-day match.
The Strachan shield and Finger trophy grades will commence semi-finals on Monday 8 March, with matches starting at 12.30pm.