By CHRIS ANDERSON
YVDCA
THE heat hit hard on Saturday with cricketers around the Yarra Valley finding the going tough.
In the DJ Strachan Shield, front-runner Warburton-Millgrove enjoyed the chance to put its feet up, while the rest fought it out in the oppressive conditions, with finals positions up for grabs.
Possibly the most anticipated game is being played at Seville, where the Blues host Mount Evelyn in a clash that could decide second place, a home final and a finals position.
This proved to be the case, as both sides battled through nearly 75 overs of good old-fashioned cricket.
Mount Evelyn made an ideal start, removing the openers early, only to see Seville bounce back in the form of an impressive partnership between Tim Dwyer (94) and Ryan Akers (41).With years of experience between them, the pair set themselves for an extended stint at the wicket. With Seville sitting at 2/107 at tea, the platform was set for an onslaught against a tiring attack.
And that they did, with a brutal half-hour period post tea, putting the pressure back on the bowlers, and setting the Blues for a total beyond 300.
Mount Evelyn bounced back through a containing spell from veteran Chris Anderson (5/31), whose flurry of wickets had the Rovers on the verge of giving the bowlers an early finish.While Seville captain Dean Troyhan (28) was still at the wicket, the Seville score continued to grow.
Despite his wicket falling, the Blues tail pushed the score to an imposing 246.
Seville would be well pleased with their efforts, and will be confident of reigniting their faltering season in time for an assault on another premiership.
Mount Evelyn will need to fight hard to chase this target.
Woori Yallock has left the door open for some challengers.
They are hosting Healesville in a crucial game in which a win would strengthen their hold on a finals position, while a loss would put the Tigers on the brink of missing finals.
Woori Yallock won the toss and elected to bat in favourable conditions.
Although many of their batsmen got starts, the Tigers struggled to take control of the contest, losing regular wickets
Chance Burridge (3/20) picked up crucial wickets for the Bloods, and with the support young gun Dermott Fry (3/22), the pair’s regular strikes kept things in check.
It was left to Tigers stalwart Michael King (68) to ensure the Tigers had reached a challenging total. With the support of the aggressive Greg Selby (27), King led the Tigers to 187.
Woori Yallock will still be comfortable with the result, as their bowling line-up contains enough fire power. With the Hoddles Creek ground unavailable due to renovations, the Wombats hosted Yarra Junction in the unfamiliar surrounds of Warburton.
Hoddles Creek batted first, and their experienced top-order weren’t able to capitalise on the friendly conditions.
Many of the Wombats made solid starts, but they would be ruing their inability to ’kick on’.
The experience of Doc Chesney (37no) added some beef to the score.
The Wombats would be pleased with the final total of 189.
Cam Spaulding (4/70) is proving to be a valuable option, and his spinners not only netted four wickets, but gave captain Quinton Hodgkinson the chance to keep his pacers fresh.
Yarra Junction certainly has the fire power at the top of their batting order to chase down the total, and would be confident they can stake a claim for finals action.
DJ Strachan Shield
Woori Yallock 187 (M. King 68, G. Selby 27, C. Burridge 3/20, D. Fry 3/22) vs Healesville, Seville 246 (T. Dwyer 94, R. Akers 41, D. Troyahn 28, C. Anderson 5/31) vs Mount Evelyn, Hoddles Creek 9/189 (Doc Chesney 37no, W. Trotter 34, C. Spaulding 4/70, H. Wilson 2/20) vs Yarra Junction, Warburton-Millgrove vs Bye
RA Finger Trophy
Healesville 107 (B. Horner 53, A. Pearce 19, S. Morgan 5/43 M. Arnold 2/17) vs Woori Yallock 3/34 (A. Pearce 3/7), Hoddles Creek 89 (M. Jones 13, A. Edmonds 13, D. Chaproniere 4/23, M. Richards 2/9, N. Goyal 2/11) vs Yarra Junction 4/32 (S. Robertson 3/19), Coldstream 9/106 (Phillips 36, Walsh 23, Abblitt 4/16, Hadj 2/40) vs Warburton-Millgrove 3/37, Mount Evelyn vs Seville
C Grade
Seville 184 (N. O’Keefe 61, P. Smith 38, R. Pearse 33, L. Fisher 5/43) vs Marysville 3/72 (L. Fisher 43no), Launching Place 206 (S. Parker 53, B. Tauber 38, S. Lowe 5/3 including hat-trick, A. Vassallo 1/10) vs Gruyere 0/10, Yarra Glen vs Yarra Junction 238 (S. Thomas 83, G. Thompson 64, J. Cook 36, J. Orren 5/21, B. Spencer 2/37), Wandin vs Healesville 228 (S. Fawdry 70, D. Senior 54, J. Oakley 4/58, L. Painter 2/19).
D Grade
Gruyere 9/190 (D. Prouse 49, A. Brain 27, S. Williams 26, L. Long 3/42, N. Dowdell 3/66) vs Yarra Junction 0/42, Yarra Glen 159 (D. Whelan 68, J. Peters 27, J. Birnie 3/28 C. Parker 2/16) v Launching Place 1/30, Mount Evelyn 234 (M. Darvell 78, D. Westaway 53, D. Finch 53, S. Sanders 2/11, S. Thompson 3/77) vs Powelltown, Seville 233 (Proctor 76, Burke 43, Pickett 3/28, Adams 1/9)
One Day Grade
Warburton Millgrove 1/177 (B. Thorneycroft 45no, S. Parkman 42no, M. Wynd 42no, J. Methven 1/23) d Healesville Red 9/106 (J. Brooks 28, B. Thorneycroft 3/13 T. Walker 2/25). Silvan 6/125 (M. King 36no, T. Martin 32, N. Dunn 3/9) d Woori Yallock 6/119 (J. Collette 41no, M. Anderson, M. King 3/8). Hoddles Creek 8/234 (A. Randall 75no, B. Horsfield 52no, H. Derix 43no, R. Spakman 3/26) d Healesville White 88 (B. D’Arcy 33, D. Plunkett 22, B. Cole 3/5, A. Robertson 3/22),
Under 16
Healesville 2/104 (J. Brooks 46, M. Boyle 34no) d Yarra Junction 3/86 (J. Cook 42). Warburton Millgrove 4/158 (J. Neale 53no, N. McDonald 33, T. Wappett 21no, L. Pickett 2/11, G. Gower 1/11, J. Colaneri 1/12) d Coldstream/Wandin 7/104 (P. Bruzzese 28, J. ,Colaneri 18*, L. Pickett 15, T. Walker 2/7, M. Guerts 2/11, M. Read 2/21), Seville 4/156 ( L. Corbett 43, M. Dall 52, C. Gall 42no, C. Parker 1/27, L. Thomas 1/27) d Launching Place 3/84 (B. Taeuber 28, L. Thomas 21no), Yarra Glen 6/121 (A. Adamson 51no, D. Whelan 56, D. Fraser 3/16, J. Williams 2/25) d Mount Evelyn 5/103 (J. Williams 53no, A. Brisbane-Flynn 12, P. Moors 2/1, L. Coulson 2/24)
Under 14
Seville 4/125 (T. Garner 38, T. Bissells 22no, T. Spargo 18no, B. Burke 1/6, J. Burke 1/6) d Warburton-Millgrove 6/72 (A Nelson 43no, C. Frankovic 2/0, E. Leeds 2/4). Yarra Junction/Hoddles Creek 6/125 (T. Reed 20no, R. Milkins 16, K. McDonald 2/8) d Yarra Glen 52 (K. McDonald 8, A. Lusey 2/6, D. O’Dea 2/14). Mount Evelyn 4/139 (C. Mole 30, J. Coutts 23, B. Griffiths 17, Z. Kennedy 1/11, N. Hellary 1/13) d Healesville/Launching Place 9/51 (J. Birnie 14, N. Hellary 11, S. VanHoogstraten 3/13, B. Westaway 3/21, P. Heaphy 2/1, D. Coutts 1/0), Healesville 2/101 (D. Scales 30no, L. Chandler 20no, O. Schelfhout 1/4, M. Sinnott 1/12) d Wandin/Coldstream 40 (J. Elliott 11no, D. Vaux 6, Z. Fawdry 3/7, 2/3)
Under 12A
Healesville White 4/134 (S. Gebert 31no, R. Lever 23, B. Olcorn 2/4) d Warburton-Millgrove 7/86 (B. Humphrey 13no, F. Lever 2/1), Launching Place 5/108 (C. Winter 28no, R. Thomas 28no, M. Bradley 15no, D. Huggins 1/5) d Seville 6/79 (G. Smith 12no, M. Hardy 11no, M. Bradley 2/7).
Under 12B
Mount Evelyn 7/98 (P. Murphy 20no, L. Sheppard 13no, M. Wallace 3/7, C. Prentice 2/6) d Healesville Red 6/39 (A. Boyle 4, C. Barrie 1/4), Yarra Junction 6/128 (Liam O’Dea 32no, Jai Ketalar 29) d Marysville 4/91 (E. Oaten 14, R. Wilson 14, Riley Foley 1/1, Zack Delaney 1/6), Healesville Blue 3/136 (C. Anderson 19no, J. Gruar 18no, A. Thompson 1/7, W Shortis 1/10) d Yarra Glen 6/87 (W. Duff 19, C. Adamson15no, A. Darkin 1/3, C. Anderson 1/6) Yarra Junction 6/128 (L. O’Dea 32, J. Kelalar 29, T. Osbourne 10, R. Foley 1/1, Z. Delaney 1/6, B. Doolan 1/14) d Marysville 4/91 (R. Wilson 14, E. Oaten 14, P. Birtchnell 12, D. Birtchnell 11, R. Wilson 2/18, D. Birtchnell 1/7, J Nicholson 1/10).
