Mid-season wrap-up

By Keith Thompson,
SATURDAY was the final day of play before the Christmas break in Yarra Valley Cricket.
The round seven matches in the D. J. Strachan Shield saw last season’s premiers demolish Gruyere District as bowler Simon Young for Wandin took 10/239. J. Mays on 69, J. Aumann, 44, M. Tilney 4/67, D. Riddell 3/66, defeated Gruyere District all out for 112, with Matt Tilney on 30, Simon Young 7/22. After being asked to follow on Gruyere District were all out for 102 with Jack Blain on 32, Simon Young, 7/47. Young took an incredible 14 wickets.
Mount Evelyn all out for 177 with Kane Jones 57, Paul Mietescu 30, C. Anderson 28, Alan Pearce 4/42 and Darren Edwards 3/44 lost to Healesville 8/204 with S. Campbell 54, Ben Slater 37, Paul Smola, 38 while H. Bruekers took 2/3.
Silvan had 175 on the board from week one with Andrew Sharp 3/35, Michael King 3/42 and Mark Appleby on 31, with day two seeing Woori Yallock finish with 8/221cc, Matt Stolarczyk on 62, Ryan Smith 43, Michael King 38, M. Neal 3/72 providing a steadying win to the Tigers before the new year.
Warburton-Millgrove batted well to reach 7/227cc with Luke Darwall on 65, Scott Darwall 52, Brent Summers 42 and Brad Winzer 40, while for Seville Daniel Healy bowled well to take 3/36. The home side defeated Seville 9/165cc with Andrew Kay on 61, Tim Dwyer 29, Adam Humphrey 2/12, Michael Walker 3/24 off 21 overs.
Day one had Hoddles Creek at 90 with Brenton Derix on 35 and Stuart Thompson 5/32. Yarra Junction’s first innings saw them all out for 126 and with a second chance to bat they reached 6/124cc with Dan Lever on 50 not out and Brenton Derix 5/24.
In the R. A. Finger Trophy, Seville had 218 on the board with Richard Dicello on 51, Paul Dicello also 51, Nathan McGill 38, Damien Egan 4/61, Alan Ireland 38 and Trevor Ottrey 2/42. However, in a tight tussle this was not enough to hold off a determined Warburton who scored a great win with 8/223 with J. Lewis on 81 not out, Alan Ireland 40 not out, Craig Atkins 3/13, Paul Dicello 2/57 and Keith Thompson 2/37. Seville still goes into the break as clear ladder leaders and will look to make amends in the one day, 9 January, return game.
Wandin all out 175 with S. Black on 24, L. Selkrig 64 and S. Morrison 4/49 lost to Coldstream who were all out for 220 with Scott Reece on 71, Matt Stark 104, A. Oxley 3/62, Nick Crosland 2/20 and B. Johnson 2/23.
At Yarra Junction the home side reached 7/229cc with Andy Doolan on 87, Glen Thompson 53 and James Shambrook 2/35 off 24, while Healesville were 118 all out with G. Waixel on 32 and Brian Horner 30, as the Eagles’ bowling was led by Nathan Fall with 3/35, Geoff Fall 3/13 and P. Ford 3/15.
Yarra Glen all out for 140 lost to Woori Yallock with 9/170, Matt Worlley 31, Paul Broussard 28 and John Holland 2/30 off 20, with Jon Woods 3/40 off 20.
YVCA cricket has a two-week break with cricket resuming in the top four grades with a one day round on 9 January and E and F Grades returning 23 January with a one-day game.
The DJSS round on 9 January will see Wandin host Coldstream and one would have to suggest that this will be a Wandin win, but anything can occur in a 40-overs-a-side game. Seville will play host to Gruyere District who will certainly be wanting to perform much better than round seven so this again could be a tight tussle. The Yarra Junction versus Warburton local derby will be tightly contested but Warburton would be the tip at this stage of the season. Silvan will take on Healesville at Silvan and this game could go either way unlike the Mount Evelyn v Hoddles Creek clash, which the home side should win.
The YVCA wishes all our cricket family the best for the festive season and we look forward to a great second half to 2009/2010 when we return.