By Chris Anderson
THE dam wall has finally broken in DJ Strachan Shield, as a spate of one sided results separated the best from the rest and saw the finals teams settled in Round 10 action.
In the most crucial clash of the weekend, Woori Yallock was precariously placed at 4/31 chasing Coldstream’s modest 111 after day one.
In the space of a handful of overs, the Tiger’s finals chances all but disappeared as they rolled over for a pathetic 45 runs with Matthew Stark (4/18) leading the way for the Crocs.
Coldstream stuttered in the pursuit of quick second innings runs and declared at 5/88 a lead of 162.
With only a reverse outright to save their season, the Tigers had a dash at victory with the big hitting Greg Selby (38) giving them a chance, but the rest of the batting order were no match for the consistent bowling of Matthew Stark (5/29) and Dean Semken (4/58) and they were bowled out for 141 handing Coldstream outright points.
The second placed Crocs will be keen to finish the season with some good results to secure the home final.
Mt Evelyn entered day two of its clash with Hoddles Creek with their sights firmly on an outright result.
The Rovers batted on, and on the back of captain Kane Jones’ century (116) they posted a score of 9/229, a lead of 146.
Four early wickets to Rovers had them coasting to outright victory, but with that they dropped their intensity and it allowed experienced Wombat pair Brenton Derix and Warwick Weir the opportunity to build a partnership and set their sights on knocking off the deficit.
The wicket of Derix on the stroke of tea opened the game up for the Rovers and although the Wombats’ lower order showed great fight after tea, they were unable to stop the home side from securing outright points. Now in third place, Mt Evelyn platers will hope a couple of wins can nudge them into a home final.
After day one, Seville was also poised for outright points after securing first innings points against Healesville.
The Blues batted on and posted a score of 183, giving them a lead of 113.
Seville’s much publicised bowling attack threw everything at the Bloods batting line-up, but with a solid unbeaten knock from Nathan Fall (58 n.o.) anchoring the innings, the visitors were able to hold out the Blues, finishing on 6/162.
Ishara Amarasinghe was the pick of the Seville bowlers in the second innings with 3/30.
With Seville now sitting fourth on the ladder, the team will be looking at its Round 11 clash with Mt Evelyn as an opportunity to advance the cause.
Yarra Junction players will be ruing their poor start to the season as they posted another post-Christmas win, this time against the struggling Silvan.
After posting a competitive 243 on day one, the Eagles made short work of the Slugs, bowling them out for a paltry 93.
The home side had no answers for the skill of David Lever (4/23) and the rest of his bowling mates. The win moves the Eagles into sixth place on the ladder but they have left their run too late to see some finals action.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:Country Week victory
IN REPRESENTATIVE action, the Yarra Valley Cricket Association completed a great week by taking out the VCCL Country Week Division 3 final.
After an up and down first three days of the tournament, the valley boys secured a finals birth with day four draw after Melbourne’s inclement weather rolled in on Thursday afternoon.
Facing Colac and District CA in the final at Balwyn, the valley made a bright start restricting Colac to 7/154 off its reduced 42 overs.
The valley players then struggled in their response and at several stages during the innings, looked as if they may fall short.
With one wicket in hand and still a handful of runs to get, Colac players dropped their chance of victory as their mid-off fieldsman dropped a dolly that would see them take out the title.
With a life gained, the valley’s tailenders secured victory with a couple of well run singles. Travis Nightingale (Yarra Junction) was named the best player of the final for his solid contribution with the bat.
The victory somewhat erases the agony of losing last year’s final under controversial circumstances.
Captain Kane Jones said the victory was great reward for those who were involved in the disappointment last year.
He said the squad was looking forward to the challenge of stepping up a division in 2013.
