At the ready: The Healesville slips cordon takes position.By Keith Thompson, YVCA Secretary
THE Yarra Valley Cricket Association (YVCA) semi-finals were completed over the holiday weekend, with the grand finals to be played over the next two weekends.
The matches will be played at Woori Yallock, Warburton, Yarra Junction, Seville, Wandin, Gruyere, Healesville, Silvan, Wesburn, Launching Place, Hoddles Creek and Coldstream, with others to be decided upon after the semi-finals have been played.
Spectators and supporters are always welcome to attend YVCA cricket matches, but especially so during the finals when some great competitive cricket is played.
In the Strachan Shield on Saturday Seville’s Leigh Aitkins led his side’s batting effort with 49 while Healesville’s Glen Newbury took 4/57.
In Strachan Reserve, Toby Robertson on 47 and Matt Hammond on 44 were best in Yarra Junction’s 195 while Adam Whitworth on 4/48 bowled well for Woori Yallock.
Seville, with Alex Bell making 28 not out from 128 runs and Ben Slater taking 5/25 for the opposition was easily overtaken by Healesville’s reply of 3/69.
D.J. Strachan Shield 3 saw Launch United on 7/361cc with Cameron Hoare 143 not out v Healesville.
D.J. Strachan Shield 4 saw Seville reach 9/286 at stumps with Fury Dipetro compiling a sturdy 64, ably assisted by Danial Gale on 49 and Brendan Hoeffs on 47, against Yarra Junction.
In the Finger Trophy, ladder leader Gruyere District played host to Powelltown, which batted first and managed 105 with J. White top scoring with 52.
Gruyere’s bowling was led by Luke Sarre (4/4), Dave Riddell (3/21) and Matt Tilney (3/34). In reply, Gruyere was in trouble at 5/50 then 8/80 before recovering to be 8/126 at stumps with coach Craig Cooper not out on 51 and Mal White on 4/29.
