By Chris Anderson
YVCA
All but one of the semi-finals in the Yarra Valley Cricket Association have been run and won, with the action across the weekend befitting of finals action.
In DJ Strachan Shield action, Warburton-Millgrove and Mount Evelyn maintained their status as the best two sides in the competition as they both booked their places in next weekend’s grand final.
In contrasting games, both sides had to find their way there.
Warburton-Millgrove brushed aside their Round 14 loss to Mount Evelyn with a comprehensive victory against Yarra Junction.
Batting out your overs is the key to any cricketing contest, and this proved to be the defining difference between the two teams.
The Burras opened the game with the bat and controlled the contest from ball one.
An attacking opening stand from David (84) and Ben (71) Lever had the home side on the front foot with an exciting century partnership.
Even with the loss of the pair, and some tightening of the screws from the Yarra Junction bowlers, the Burras middle-order kept things flowing.
Contributions from Liam Barnard and Tim McKail through the middle overs, and a blistering finish from Mick Walker (65) on day two, ensured the home side were in complete control of the contest after their innings of 8/315.
With the task in front of them, the Eagles couldn’t muster the resistance, or the patience, to have a decent crack at the big total.
Mick Walker (4/29) and David Lever (3/40) completed impressive individual finals efforts as they gave the visitors no sniff of a victory push.
Burra Daniel Lever put the cream on the cake with two wickets of his own as they bundled out a disappointing Eagles outfit for 86.
Mount Evelyn’s task against Woori Yallock was in complete contrast to that of the semi-finals.
The Mounters started day one in a flurry with the bat, as their top order led by Daniel Giblin (57) and Kane Jones (56) blasted their way to a blistering start.
The Woori boys kept to their task, and with quick wickets before the tea interval, they negated the home team’s attacking flair.
Simon Young (5/77) and Zac Staggard (4/19) then proceeded to wipe through a lacklustre Mount Evelyn tail to restrict the damage to 196.
The Woori Yallock openers of Paul Broussard and Mick Dwyer then patiently navigated the visitors to 0/46 to take day one honours.
The war of attrition continued on day two as neither the Woori Yallock openers, or their Mount Evelyn counterparts gave an inch.
When the deadlock was finally broken, with the score on 54, a staggering 43 overs had passed, highlighting the struggle between bat and ball.
Dwyer and captain Ryan Smith continued the resistance, but with the score continuing to stagnate, the wicket of Dwyer opened the door for the Mounters to capitalise in the shadows of the tea interval.
Three quick wickets followed as the Tigers’ resistance started to falter with the score at 5/84.
The experience of Smith and Troy Murphy then combined.
With them able to navigate their team through the tea interval, and well into the second session of play, the game looked set for a thrilling finish.
A disastrous run-out of Smith, when runs had started to flow from the captain’s bat, proved to be a fatal blow.
Murphy continued to attack.
While he was at the wicket, the Tigers still held hope of victory; but with wickets falling around him, and his stroke-play falling short, the innings was wrapped up for 141.
Priding themselves on their fielding, the pick of the plays for the Mounters was their two run-outs at crucial points in the day’s play, as their bowlers toiled manfully across more than 90 overs.
Gareth Fraser (3/29) took out the bowling honours, but extended spells from Kane Jones 2/24 off a remarkable 30 overs (including 18 maidens) and Chris Anderson 2/45 off 23 overs kept things in check early.
So this leaves us with a tantalising grand final match-up between the competition’s best performed teams this season, Warburton-Millgrove and Mount Evelyn.
Both teams fought out an exciting Round 14 clash just a week ago.
Despite Mount Evelyn taking the honours, the minor premiers gained plenty out of the one day fixture.
Both teams are capable of big scores with the bat, and with plenty of stroke-makers, this bodes well for an exciting brand of cricket across the two days.
DJ Strachan Shield
Warburton-Millgrove 8/315 (David Lever 84, B Lever 71, M Walker 65) defeated Yarra Junction 86 (M Walker 4/29, David Lever 3/40, Daniel Lever 2/9); Mount Evelyn 196 (D Giblin 57, K Jones 56, B Jones 31, G Fraser 24, S Young 5/77, Z Staggard 4/19) defeated Woori Yallock 141 (R Smith 32 T Murphy 30 P Broussard 29 M Dwyer 23 G Fraser 3/29 K Jones 2/24 C Anderson 2/45).
RA Finger Trophy
Gruyere 285 (A. Waixel 110, J. Carrol 72, T. Kear 4/70, W. Trotter 3/96) d Hoddles Creek 159 (G. Derix 49, M. Jones 33, R. Prouse 7/58); Healesville 5/136 (52ov) (B. Horner 33, W. Maile 26, J. Lawry 25, D. Sharp 3/26, D. Whelan 2/35) (play 23 overs, Monday) v Coldstream 9/253 (S. Phillips 85, L. Doughty 55, A. Pearce 3/25, L. Chandler 3/46).
C Grade
Seville 150 (R. Pearse 54, G. Frankovic 28, A. Kay 27 M. Sinnott 4/32, M. Oakley 2/32) def by Wandin 8/151 (G. Foden 42, J. Oakley 27*, A. Kay 4/39, G. Foster 3/58); Mount Evelyn 117 (D. Westaway 46, J. Williams 25, S. Thompson 6/24) d Powelltown 110 (J. Long 24, B. Dunn 20, R. Shepherd 7/49, T. Williams 2/44).
D Grade
Wandin 222 (J. Freeman 74, D. Trembath 62, A. Robertson 4/28, A. Randall 2/30) d Hoddles Creek 144 (A. Stern 43, M. Robertson 40, D. Wallace 4/36, D. Trembath 3/33); Coldstream 4/126 (A. Cummins 31*, S. Bethell 31, D. Evans 23, B. Creedy 23, T. Pilton 2/43) d Yarra Junction 119 (T. Pilton 26*, B. Thomas 25, P. McArdle 3/12, A. Cummins 3/30, B. Creedy 2/20).
One Day Grade
Coldstream 63 (T. Gleeson 2/2, L. Ronalds 2/8, C. Piggott 2/15) def by Marysville 0/74 (J. Darkin 37*, B. Norman 33*); Powelltown 8/159 (B. Simpson 44*, P. Dunne 28*, K. Dunne 28, P. Doughty 3/23, D. Moore 2/12) def by Wandin 7/164 (P. Doughty 43*, D. Hummer 39, L. Sinnott 26, A. Clark 2/13, K. Dunne 2/13).
Under 16s
Healesville 9/70 (B. Eacott 15, A. Vicendese 2/2, A. Nelson 2/12, D. Ceveri 2/15) def by Warburton 9/132 (N. Andueza 55*, A. Nelson 29, B. Neilson 4/19); Yarra Junction 6/209 (M. Anderson 52*, C. Holmes 39, B. Clarke 23, D. Rowe 19, J. Vanderhyde 17, L. Sinnott 1/18, H. Lamont 1/25, M. Pezzamenti 1/23, D. Pezzamenti 1/27, J. Elliott 1/29) d Wandin-Coldstream 150 (J. Birnie 40, M. Pezzamenti 27, L. Sinnott 24, A. Whelan 17, Z. Thompson 2/0, H. Bansagi 2/11, R. Foley 2/16, J. Vanderhyde 1/9, L. O’Dea 1/11).
Under 14s
Seville 5/247 (J. Proctor 40*, L. Kay 40*, R. Foster 31, J. Beri 30*, C. Frankovic 28, B. Gribrock 1/24) d Warburton 8/53 a/o (J. Sharp 14*, J. Beri 2/5, H. Fleming 1/7, M. Hardy 1/8); Launching Place 59 (M. Bradley 26, S. Gebert 5/11) def by Healesville 225 (S. Gebert 43*, D. Ebbels 41*, M. Bradley 3/31, Lucy Sinnott 2/15).
Under 12A
Healesville 3/100 (H. Baxter 33*, C. Anderson 30*, J. Hook 1/6, J. Kneebone 1/11, C. Betts 1/14) d Seville 95 (E. Vanbeek 31, H. Smith 14, H. Baxter 3/4, R. Lever 2/6, C. Kusnezow 2/12); Warburton-Millgrove 8/158 (E. Crowley 36, R. Thompson 31*, A. Waldron 2/7, W. Hayes 1/3) def by Hoddles Creek 4/174 (J. Fritzlaff 31*, J. Thurlow 30*, L. Neale 1/7, D. Walker 1/13).
