By CHRIS ANDERSON
YVCA
ROUND 11 has served up a tasty trio of matches in the Yarra Valley’s premier grade D.J. Strachan Shield, with top spot up for grabs, a place in the top four, and a much-needed win for a couple of sides.
Hot conditions greeted the players, an opportunity to make any bowling attack toil hard early.
However, it was the bowlers who dominated, obviously eager to seek the cool of the pavilion.
In the biggest game of the round, Seville is hosting Warburton-Millgrove
where top position is up for grabs, as well as a little psychological advantage with finals around the corner.
With the game eagerly anticipated, disappointment emerged the winner on day one, as Warburton-Millgrove’s psychological advantage has become more of a visit to the mental institution for the Blues
batsmen.
Seville batted first and had no answers to the Burra’s all-round
attack.
As this season has progressed, Warburton-Millgrove has
emerged as the team to beat in the premiership race.
They have established that they have the best batting line-up in the
competition, but Saturday proved they have a versatile bowling attack to
match.
The Burras shared the wickets, led by Daniel Lever (3/21), to completely push aside the home team for a dismal 85.
Scores under 100 are tough to defend, and although the Blues put on
some early pressure, the explosive David Lever’s blistering 54 all but led
his team to the chasing target, with the visitors finishing on 3/74.
The game now finds itself all but over, with the only question remaining will Warburton-Millgrove chase outright points, or use the remaining overs to bat on and grind their opposition into the turf.
The other key match-up is the clash where Yarra Junction is hosting Mount Evelyn with fourth position on the ladder up for grabs.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Yarra Junction’s batsmen
let their captain’s good fortune go to waste as they had no match for
another consistent bowling display.
The Rovers’ bowlers shared the wickets as they put the Eagles under pressure from the first ball.
Opener Marcus Hottes was the only batsmen showing fight.
However, with his wicket falling at 7/51, there was a moment where it looked as if the total would be rounded out for under 80.
A useful partnership from Hayden Wilson (27) and Terry Ottrey ensured the total reached three figures, but it wasn’t much greater as the home team was bowled out for 104.
It was a case of the young and the old, or should I say experienced, with the ball as up and coming spinner Jed Thompson (3/15) and veteran Chris Anderson (3/12) led the bowling for the visitors.
With Mount Evelyn racing to 30, Yarra Junction were immediately put under pressure, but a brace of wickets from leggie Pat Ford (2/7) gave the home side a sniff of wickets.
However, opener Dan Fraser (34 not out) and young gun Jon
Williams ensured the Rovers would reach stumps at 2/49 against some good bowling.
Although in the driver’s seat, Mount Evelyn is still a way from the
target and early wickets from the Eagles could have them well in this
contest, but they would have to be quick as the total is well short of the
mark.
The final contest of the round sees Healesville host Hoddles Creek in a
battle between the competition’s strugglers.
Both sides have had their moments this season, but haven’t had the consistency or depth to really challenge the better teams in the competition.
Healesville batted first under sunny skies, and the day panned out to be a classic battle between bat and ball.
At the end of the day, Healesville finished to be all out for 173.
Pace duo Dave Chesney (4/56) and Nick Bark (2/24) continue to show their emerging talents and development as they led Hoddles Creek’s attack, and they had the hosts under some early pressure.
However, a rear-guard partnership between the Blood’s star brothers, Scott (65) and Ash (41) Hamer, ensured the home team would bat most of their overs to compile the competitive target.
Both sides would be relatively happy with the situation of the game after
day one.
Hoddles Creek possess enough fire power with the bat that if they
can muster some early fortitude to resist a collapse, then a chase of 174 is well within their means.
However, Healesville does have an attack with a variety that will ask plenty of questions, and as is the case with young fielding teams, if they get their wind up, they will be hard to keep out.
Scores
D.J. Strachan Shield
Seville 85 (B. Caldwell 21 not out, M. Dall 15, Dan Lever 3/21) versus Warburton 3/74
(David Lever 54), Yarra Junction 104 (H. Wilson 27, M. Hottes 20, C.
Anderson 3/12, J. Thompson 3/15) versus Mount Evelyn 2/49 (D. Fraser 34 not out, P Ford 2/7), Healesville 173 (S. Hamer 65, A. Hamer 41, Dave Chesney 4/56, N. Bark
2/24) versus Hoddles Creek.
R.A. Finger Trophy
Hoddles Creek versus Healesville 7/482 (W. Maile 215 not out, D. Senior 93, B. Horner
77, A. Finch 2/34), Warburton Millgrove versus Seville 9/323 (T. Page 95, R. Oates
77, S. Luckhurst 46, T. Appleton 3/94, M. Hadj 2/59), Yarra Junction 9/227 (J.
Jenkinson 79, J. Lawrence 65, I. Hawkey 5/54, D. Fraser 2/45) versus Mount Evelyn,
Coldstream 112 (Walsh 31, Phillips 32, S. Morgan 5/43, B. Johnson 3/26) versus
Woori Yallock 3/27.
C Grade
Seville 120 (L. Corbett 35, L. Roberts 23, J. Harding 8/31) versus Gruyere 1/48,
Launching Place 183 (D. Colling 41, L. Winter-Annette 36, D. Thorne 3/36, R.
Aitken 2/29) versus Wandin, Marysville 204 (C. Franklyn 61, L. Fisher 34, L.
Roland 32, S. Elliott 25, K. Bomford 6/66, D. Flutter 2/25) versus Yarra
Junction 1/13, Healesville versus Yarra Glen 160 (A. Cowan 75, C. Kyatt 15, S.
Neilson 5/27).
D Grade
Gruyere versus Seville 258 (A. Spargo 86, C. Hurst 42, N. Waixel 3/27, B. Young
2/44), Launching Place 200 (A. Cope 66, S. Grindley 27, M. Young 25, T. Doolan
3/25, B. Sinnot 2/6) versus Wandin, Coldstream 155 (L. Creedy 38, A. Cummins
32. T. Spencer 4/34, J. Woods 2/18, J. Lusk 2/32) versus Yarra Glen, Powelltown
versus Yarra Junction (no scores).
One Day Grade
Woori Yallock 5/112 (J. Collette 41 not out, P. Sanders 26, C. Darwall 2/15) defeated
Warburton Millgrove 110 (F. deVarga 24, J. Collette 4/19), Hoddles Creek
8/243 (S. Robertson 73, G. Edmonds 56, I. Scurrah 38) defeated Yarra
Junction 196 (T. Winter 57, C. Fall 38, L. Jones 4/23), Healesville White
8/135 (S. Dennett 50 not out, D. Plunkett 38, K. Bunn 2/3, S. Gamble 2/10) defeated
Healesville Red 78 (A. Boyle 13, J. Plunkett 3/20, B. Darcy 2/8).
D Grade versus E Grade
Mount Evelyn E 6/141 (C. Carmody 50, J. Dalton 46 not out, L. Walker 3/18 including
hatrick) defeated by Mount Evelyn D 6/153 (M. Shepherd 46 not out, C. Robertson 23, M.
Walker 21).
