By Keith Thompson, YVCA secretary
SET to chase Seville’s 227, Coldstream failed by 30 runs in last Saturday’s completion of round nine in the Yarra Valley Cricket Association’s D. J. Strachan Shield.
Coldstream managed only 197 with C. Gannel on 52, A. Evans 46, L. Lambert 19 not out and P. Batchelor 19. Ishara Amarasinghe took 4/47, Dean Troyahn 2/29, and John Pignataro 2/64.
In Seville’s 227 Leigh Aitkins scored 31 with Adam Burns 30, Ishara Amarasinghe 29, L. Lambert 3/59, N. Cuthbertson 2/17, Chris Dobson 2/23 and Scott Reece 2/35.
Gruyere District, with a first-innings score of 79 (Brett Young 21, Michael Walker 3/23, Dan Egan 2/13), batted a second time after Warburton declared its first innings at 7/182 with Tim McKail on 37, Luke Darwall 26 and Matt Tilney taking 5/71.
Gruyere fared much better in its second innings – all out for 200 but Warburton still won. Aaron Violi scored 57 and Adrian Vassallo 48. Brent Summers took 3/4 and Michael Walker also took 3/58.
Woori Yallock needed to bat well to beat Wandin’s 264. The chase was going well but the fall of captain Michael King on 99 knocked the wind from the home side’s sails and it fell 12 runs short with 252.
Ryan Smith scored 58 in a long partnership with King, Matt Stollarcyk made 35, while Wandin’s bowlers toiled well led by Wayne Ross with 4/78 and Jackson Wright 3/58.
Hoddles Creek at home had 173 on the board and was hoping to keep Silvan down. But it was not to be: Silvan reached 6/ 306 with Jason Lovell on 85 and Luke Painter on 44 the main contributors. The win kept Silvan steady in the middle of the ladder with three rounds to go.
Mount Evelyn was dismissed for 211 with S. Kogleman on 87 and Mike Darvell on 32. Brad Jones took 3/35 and David Lever 2/44 for Yarra Junction.
Junction scored 304 in its turn at the crease with L. Newstead on 78 and Nathan Fall on 52 while Mount Evelyn’s Aaron Booth and Luke Jones took three wickets each.
The R. A. Finger Trophy threw up some interesting results that might help decide the final four.
Yarra Junction declared at 8/205 – Andy Doolan 97, Glen Thompson 37, Jordan Fall 24, Paul Harris 2/ 5, N. Sargent 2/8 – and proved too strong for Coldstream, which was who were all out 161 with Paul Harris on 42, Matt Johnson 28, Tom McCulloch 36, Jordan Fall 4/36 and Toby Pilton 2/23.
Seville should retain top place after its loss to Healesville, which played far better than the home side for a good win. Seville’s 111 proved not good enough against Healesville’s 206 – Mark Powell 56, Nathan McGill 4/40. Seville batted a second time to be 4/188, with Garth Woodford not out 98 and Matty Walker 64.
Yarra Glen amassed 230 to beat Wandin outright, 101 in its first inning with J. Holland on 5/32, J. Orren 3/37 and 60. In the second innings John Orren was 2/6 and J. Woods 4/ 26. The win moves Yarra Glen into the final four.
Warburton Millgrove made 223 (Rod Brown 89, A. Tazzyman 5/58) but lost to Woori Yallock with 249 (Cal Ferguson 53, Tom Vanveen 50, A. Calder 1/1).
In the Strachan Shield next Saturday, Warburton Millgrove should win a tight game against the fast improving Coldstream, Yarra Junction travels to Gruyere and should be too strong, Seville will look to beat Woori Yallock in a battle for fifth place, with the visitors favourites but Seville also quite capable of winning at home.
Wandin hosts Healesville, a match that should settle some places in the four. Healesville, with a tight run home, will want to win to ease things in the final two rounds, while Wandin, on top and looking to stay there, will pull out all stops.
Silvan hosts Mt Evelyn and, with Silvan on the improve and Mt Evelyn in a low ebb, the match could see a tight win to Silvan.
