Fine start to new cricket season

By YVCA secretary Keith Thompson
THE new Yarra Valley cricket season got underway on Saturday after warm weather on Friday dried up many of the potential problems that had caused concern.
However, with some ground under prepared or not touched at all, there were still some scheduling issues to be addressed.
Warburton-Millgrove hosted Healesville in a replay of last year’s Strachan Shield final.
Batting first, Warburton-Millgrove made 7-145 from their 40 overs.
Ben Hanson (50) and Michael Walker (47 not out) top-scored with Healesville’s Darren Edwards taking 2-33.
In the run chase, Healesville eased their way to a comfortable win, losing two wickets for 199 in their 40 overs.
Glen Powell (76 not out) and Glen Newbury (67 not out) led the way while Wayne Watson took both wickets for 31 runs.
Yarra Junction hosted new side Yarra Panthers which won the Finger Trophy last season.
Yarra Junction were all out for 151 with Stephen Flutter making 47 and Ben Lever 43. Geoff Hunter took 3-28.
In reply, the Panthers were dismissed for 109 with Hunter scoring 30. Kevin Bomford had 3-31.
Wandin, returning to Shield action after a season of Finger Trophy, made 9-118 runs with Dawson (28) topscoring. Nathan Ward bagged 3-26 for Woori Yallock.
In a thrilling run chase, Woori Yallock were all out for 114. Michael King hit 35 and Justin Mays took 3-28.
Mt Evelyn batted first at Seville but could only manage 8-94- 8 in their allotted overs with Kane Jones making an unbeaten 56. Matt Sondergeld, who has been in a good paddock this winter, took 2-13.
Seville reached 6-133 with Tim Dwyer (39) and Scott Page (30) in good batting form.
Shane Luck took 2-22.
No scores were received from the Silvan v Coldstream match.
In reserve grade, Yarra Junction’s Norm Spakman took 4-20 to help defeat Coldstream while Seville’s Richard DiCello made an unbeaten 76 to ease Seville past Mt Evelyn’s total of 156 with one over left.
In the RA Finger Trophy, new club Marysville had a baptism of fire at Powelltown.
Chasing the home side’s impressive 8-166, the newcomers were all out for 68, with Jason Harrow hitting a gutsy 20.
Gruyere Districts had an easy |victory over Launching Place with |Dean Prouse taking 4-22.
Kinglake were too strong for Hoddles Creek thanks to fine knocks from Jamie Morgan (77) and Jarrad Heal (35) which took them to 5-178 in their allotted overs. Davis took 4-44. The Creek used all their overs but could not reach the target, finishing at 8-135.
David McMahon and Ben Styles were the best of the Kinglake bowlers.
Aura Vale’s Nathan Phillips produced a man-of-the-match performance taking 3-10 and then making 39 in his team’s comfortable win over Yarra Glen.
On Saturday, all the YVCA senior grades will play along with the under 12s, 14s and 16s.