By Keith Thompson, YVCA secretary
ROUND six of the Yarra Valley Cricket Association season in the D. J. Strachan Shield commenced on Saturday with ladder leader Mount Evelyn hosting second-placed Woori Yallock.
Woori Yallock batted first but could not follow up last round’s batting performance and were all out for a dismal score of 74. Andrew Sharp was again the backbone of the batting with 31. Mount Evelyn’s bowling was led by Chris Anderson on 4/28 and Kane Jones 4/39.
Mount Evelyn then batted until close of play to be 3/119 with Kane Jones on 59, Andrew Giblin 38 not out, Andrew Sharp 1/18 and Damien Ryan 1/28. One would assume Mount Evelyn may well declare overnight to seek an outright opportunity on day two.
Healesville travelled to the picturesque Hoddles Creek ground and batting first reached 227 at the close of play with Darren Edwards on 47, N. Harbe also 47 while for the Hoddles Creek Wombats, Scott Simmonds took 2/44 assisted by S. Williams with 2/25. If Hoddles Creek’s leading batsmen get a start they could well reach this score.
Yarra Junction at home to Seville, and with only a match between them on the ladder after five rounds, set the scene for a keenly fought game.
Yarra Junction batted first but were dismissed for just 70 with Stephen Flutter on 27 and David Lever on 18 the main defence against the Seville attack led by John Pignataro 5/30, and Ishara Amarasingne with 4/16.
Seville at stumps are 1/27 and should go on to get the required 43 runs. In this game, however, nothing is certain and a batting collapse is never out of the question when you look at the scores this season.
Reigning premiers, Wandin, coming off a loss in round five hosted Warburton-Millgrove. The visitors took to the crease first in what would be a great game. Warburton were dismissed for 160 with Adam Humphries and Liam Barnard each getting 45. The Wandin attack was lead by Simon Young with 4/63 assisted by Paul Grayling with 2/10. Wandin are 1/5 in reply and Warburton will be looking for early wickets on day two to place the home side under pressure.
on a pitch that had, sadly, been damage by vandals late in the week. In reply, Silvan at stumps are 6/150 with Jason Lovell on 56 Coldstream travelled to Silvan and were all out for 82 with Mark Appleby on 4/23 doing the damage not out.
Investigations into the vandalism are under way using closed circuit security film.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:R. A. Finger Trophy
In this competition Coldstream had a much better day. On their home ground they batted first and reached 8/206cc, Craig Robertson 39, D. Ralph 32, Paul Harris 30, Steve Pegg 30 not out and Lee Creedy 26 not out, as Warburton’s Trevor Ottrey took 5/37.
Warburton-Millgrove will need to bat well to get the score but it is within reach.
Seville got off to a slow start but with wickets in hand after tea the batsman enjoyed some mental leeway to build the score to over 300 – 8/319cc. Matthew Brooke-Walker controlled this innings with 161 not out with Stu Sculthorpe on 29 and Luke Campbell-Dury 3/71.
Wandin will be looking to Ricky Painter to emulate Brooke-Walker’s innings to have any chance of reaching the score.
With ladder positions of second and fourth, the match between Healesville and Yarra Junction at Oxley College was set to be a tightly fought affair.
Healesville batted first and were all out for 156 with stalwart player Richard Maile on 36, James Shambrook on 25 and Daniel Lever 3/17. In reply at stumps Yarra Junction are 4 for 67, still requiring 89 runs to reach the target.
Woori Yallock batted first at home and after using all their wickets were all out for 204. Julian Smith was best with the bat on 78, A. Tazzyman made 47, while for the visitors Yarra Glen’s John Orren toiled away taking 3/41. Opening bowler, Jamie Holland, impressed again with 4/20.
In C Grade Division One, Stuart Parker of Launching Place United made 112 and Ricky DeRooy fell only eight runs shorts of his century with 92. Launching Place were 4/249 at stumps after dismissing Silvan for 50 with Luke Murphy 4/22.
Kinglake on 10/178 with James Morgan 86, Aaron Westworth 30, Cameron Charter 16, John DeVisor 5/66 and Nick Lawlor 2/46 vs Hoddles Creek.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:Over 60s
This coming Sunday, 6 December, from 11am, the Victorian Over 60s cricket teams will come to the Seville Cricket Grounds for a match against the YVCA Over 60s XI, in a friendly bushfire appeal match. They will also play a match between two invitational teams. It’s a great opportunity to get along to Seville to watch some fun “old age” cricket.
