Yarra Junction’s 1st XI was the only side able to take the field over the weekend, with heavy rains on Friday washing out a large portion of the matches set to take place as cricket clubs start their seasons.
Yarra Junction took on South Croydon’s 2nd XI away at Griff Hunt Reserve and a strong bowling performance set them up for a comfortable run chase in the one-day match.
The first wicket was nabbed by Yarra Junction with only three runs on the board, with Mathew Stewart run out before South Croydon settled with a 45-run partnership, ended by the loss of subsequent top-scorer Lachlan Barrett who was caught LBW by Kevin Bomford.
The middle order fell to pieces, with the next four wickets of Cameron Hull (bowled by Anthony Davis), Jacob Mason (run out), William Kenny (stumped by Mike Ainsley, bowled by Davis) and Luke Dowling-Horgan (bowled by Davis) taken for only 16 runs.
Tailenders Ryan Lacey and Scott Anderson put on a 30-run partnership to boost South Croydon’s total before Lacey went out to Rhys Mathews. Travis Nightingale then bowled Jacob Wynne for a duck and Mathews took the wicket of Anderson with Neel Goswami and Craig Staggard seeing out the 40 overs not out to finish South Croydon’s innings 9/103.
Davis finished with an astonishing 4 wickets for 5 runs off his 8 overs including 4 maidens, Mathews took 2 for 10 runs with 2 maidens off 8, Bomford 1 for 13 off 8, T Nightingale 1 for 16 off 6, Chris Miutescu none for 15 off 5 and Bradley Nightingale none for 30 off 5.
Davis, B Nightingale, Foley and Ainsley all managed a run out, with Ainsley secure g his stumping as well. Foley took the only catch of the match.
Yarra Junction then sent out Ryan Carter and Riley Foley to open their innings and they were all that was required, chasing down the total in only 15 overs.
Carter quickly pummelled South Croydon with a quickfire 72, with Foley chipping in 20 and the extras making up the difference as the one-day match ended early due to Yarra Junction’s stellar performance.
South Croydon’s bowling figures were as follows: Kenny none for 8 including 1 maiden off 2, Barrett none for 8 off 2, Lacey none for 14 off 2, Wynne none for 16 off 2, Staggard none for 17 off 3, Stewart none for 20 off 2 and Anderson none for 21 off 2.
