By Chris Anderson
AS THE weather starts to heat up, so too does the cricket action across the Yarra Valley Cricket Association. With four rounds remaining to secure top four positions, teams have stepped up the intensity in an effort to see finals action.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:WARBURTON MILLGROVE v MOUNT EVELYN
THE big winners in the association’s premier grade, the D.J. Strachan Shield, were Warburton Millgrove which regained top position on the ladder by completely pushing aside the previous ladder leaders Mount Evelyn.
After being set a modest 138 for victory, the Burras’ top order showed the way in a disciplined performance that saw them eclipse the Rovers’ score in the 56th over with the loss of only two wickets.
Scott Darwall (43), Mick Walker (73) and Liam Barnard (46) showed discipline, and patience, at the crease to secure victory, while the remainder of the batsmen helped themselves to a tiring attack to score a formidable score of 9/323.
Luke Jones (4/71) and Dan Fraser (3/48) managed to gain some pride back for the home side with some late wickets.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:SEVILLE v WOORI YALLOCK
Seville’s much lauded pace duo of Ishara Amarasinghe (6/28) and Matt Tilney (4/45) put the rest of the association on notice with a dominant display with the ball against Woori Yallock.
The Blues’ frontliners have been the key to the team’s success over recent seasons, but haven’t got the bags of wickets as regularly as in previous seasons.
The Tigers had no match for their experience and guile as they were dismissed for 105, well short of the 285 set to win.
After an indifferent first half to the season, the Blues will be keen to ensure this form continues towards finals.
Woori will be keen for quick form reversal if they are to stay in finals contention.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:YARRA JUNCTION v HEALESVILLE
Sitting seventh and eighth on the ladder, on paper the game between Yarra Junction and Healesville was set up to be a hotly contested and even match, especially considering the loser would find their finals aspirations gone.
Set 247 for victory, the Bloods made a good fist of the chase with young opener Mark Powell showing his talent with 65.
Unfortunately for the home side, he was the only batsmen to make a good score despite many getting a good start.
This led to the home side being dismissed for 215, 32 short of their target.
For the Eagles, spinner Dan Lever (3/50) and cousin David (3/50), ensured that the visitors continually got wickets to keep their team’s nose in front of the contest.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:COLDSTREAM v HODDLES CREEK
In the final contest of the round, Coldstream clinched a vital victory against another finals contender in Hoddles Creek.
After the Crocs had set the Wombats a massive 454 for victory, the visitors had no answers and were dismissed for 168.
Dean Semken again showed his value with the ball, with the spinner bagging another good haul of 6/64.
Marty Vidakovic once again led the Wombats with a valuable 78, but he didn’t have much assistance as the target pressured the Wombats into a meek surrender.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:NEXT ROUND
With four rounds remaining, the next few weeks will sort out the wheat from the chaff.
In round nine matches, Yarra Junction hosts Seville in a game the Eagles must win to stay in touch, but one suggests Seville are warming themselves for finals action.
Hoddles Creek hosts ladder-leaders Warburton Millgrove in a game the Wombats also need to win, but again the Burras are finding their mojo at the right time of the season.
Woori Yallock hosts Silvan and if they are serious about finals action, they will be too strong for the Slugs.
In the final game of the round, Healesville hosts Mount Evelyn with both sides keen to put round eight losses behind them.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:JUNIORS
The Yarra Valley’s Juniors also resume their season’s next weekend with the introduction of the Super 8s competition.
The fast-paced version of the games sees each side receive eight overs each in a dash to score the most runs.
The first two rounds of the competition will be run this Saturday, while round three will be conducted on Wednesday 8 February.
The competition will conclude with a gala finals day on Saturday 26 February, which was a huge success last season.
For any juniors who have been bitten by the cricket bug, courtesy of the Big Bash League, it’s not too late to join your local club. If you wish to take up the game go to yarravalley.cricketvictoria.com.au and click on ‘CLUBS’ on the left hand side of the screen to find the contact details of your local club.
