By CHRIS ANDERSON
THE Yarra Valley Cricket Association’s grand finalists have been decided after an enthralling weekend of cricket.
In the top-level DJ Strachan Shield, Healesville is the toast of the town as they have advanced to the grand final for the first time in over three decades.
The Bloods carried some impressive form into a classic semi-final duel against the finals hardened Warburton-Millgrove.
On day one, the visitors were able to compile an impressive 8/289 courtesy of brilliant top order knocks from Scott Hamer (93), Ash Hamer (62) and Aaron Violi (41).
Warburton-Millgrove was well serviced by their veteran superstar, Mick Walker, whose figures of 4/65 kept the total manageable.
David Lever has proven himself to be one of the competition’s best stroke makers, and he put the young Bloods openers under the pump from the first ball.
With his brother Ben holding the fort at the other end, the pair had put together a partnership of 76 within a blink of an eye.
They had the Warburton faithful up and about with visions of knocking off this grand chase with ease.
Just as a finals shot looked to be escaping the Bloods, captain Ash Hamer took the ball and wrested control of the match.
Having bowled Lever for 46, he turned the game as the wicket opened the door for Dermott Fry to exact some revenge with a couple of wickets of his own.
With the dismissals of Ben Lever (51) and the dangerous Tim McKail, the brakes had been applied to this batting freight train.
At tea, the game was interestingly poised with the Burras 3/125.
The home side regrouped after the break and the experienced pairing of Daniel Lever and Mick Walker expertly navigated through the next 10 overs, seemingly putting the Burras in a strong position to launch an attack on the total over the closing stages of the innings.
Once again, Hamer proved to have the golden arm; and with a blink of an eye, he had dismissed the pair, and left the chase teetering at 5/159.
The Burras found the going difficult from that point onwards, as the Bloods sensed a golden chance to close in on victory and a much-anticipated place in the grand final.
In the end, the home side was bowled out for a brave 251, but their efforts saw them fall 38 runs short.
Ash Hamer was the pick of the bowlers with 5/32, while Dermott Fry (3/70) chipped in with crucial wickets, and Dylan Moore provided a lengthy spell of economical bowling.
Joining Healesville in the Grand Final will be reigning champs Woori Yallock who were extremely impressive in their disposal of Mt Evelyn.
The champs did most of the damage on day one as Simon Young (6/39) helped dismiss the visitors for a sub-par 138, despite the best efforts of Damian Cupido whose unbeaten 69 was a highlight to behold on a bleak day.
Woori Yallock ensured they would close day one in control at 1/74.
With early day two wickets needed, Mt Evelyn threw all they could at the Tigers, but they couldn’t muster enough wicket-taking deliveries.
Even though the runs flowed off the bats of Tim Dwyer and Mock, Mick held firm allowing for a certain level of assuredness among the Woori Yallock team and led his side to a comfortable eight-wicket victory.
