By Chris Handasyde, Josh Handasyde, and Michael Davern
The U12-3, U12-7 and 5th XI Teams were all beaten in grand finals over the weekend.
Our U14-3 and Under 16-4 won their semi finals to now play off in Grand Finals starting next week.
Our 2nd XI season ended losing their final against Yarra Junction but Healesville’s 1st XI booked a spot in a preliminary final by beating Templeton in an elimination final.
U12-3 Grand Final: Healesville 8/115 defeated by Bayswater Park 4/116.
Healesville batted first with opener Ryder Hudson getting them off to a great start with 30 runs, however wickets fell continuously at the other end until Kael Senti 17 and Mika Kerst 12 steadied the ship.
Healesville fell short of batting the full 23 overs and ended on a defendable score of 8/115.
Bayswater Park came out all guns blazing with their top three batters all making runs quickly.
Bayswater Park chased the runs with 4 overs to spare.
Kael Senti 2/12, Josh Braden 1/9 and Jackson Lehman 1/7 were Healesville’s wicket takers.
U12-7 Grand Final: Healesville 8/86 defeated by Wandin 6/87.
The Under 12(7)’s played their first grand final on Friday night against Wandin, unfortunately losing in a close game.
Healesville were sent into bat with Wandin’s bowlers made inroads early against some of Healesville’s strongest batters.
Good scores from Fletcher Brook (11 not out), Otis Rowland (15), Arlo Turner (13 not out), and Rory Jackson-Ward (8) saw Healesville reach a modest score of 86.
Bowling needed to be tight to defend that and the team were off to a great start when Felix McMahon (2/11) dismissed two of Wandin’s best batters in one over.
Wickets continued to fall regularly with Rory Jackson-Ward (1/10), Milo Jackson-Ward, (1/4), Arlo Turner (1/10) and then Mason Kincaid, (1/4).
Only needing 2 wickets to win the game, Healesville has their chances but Wandin got over the line for the win.
From last in 23/24, to runners up in 24/25, it has been a sensational season for the Under 12(7)’s who should be well-pleased with their achievements.
U14-3 Healesville 272 defeated Wantirna South 6/248 – day 2 of 2 day game (Semi Final).
Week two with 272 on the board, you could be forgiven for thinking the game’s result was merely a formality. The innings started with some tight bowling with Endo Gotch and Aeden Senti partnering for a nice stumping up to the stumps off the medium pace.
But that was the only highlight for Healesville in the first 25 overs with good batting and bad fielding seeing the runs flow for Wantirna South, seeing them to 1/135 after 25.
Coach Josh Handasyde gave his troops the wake up call and saw the team switch on with a few changes, but with the momentum Wantirna South continued to score runs at ease.
Wantirna South then had their star batsmen retire on 57 not out and 56 not out apiece and when they left the ground the runs started to slow.
Requiring 75 off 10 overs, Healesville continued to drive hard and eventually strangled Wantirna South for them to end their innings on 6/248 off 50 overs, 24 short.
A great effort from Wantirna South but Healesville qualify for the Grand Final against Wonga Park at Wonga Park next week.
U16-4 Healesville 5/204 defeated Hoddles Creek 9/203 – day 2 of 2 day split innings (Semi Final).
Resuming at 3/89 Hoddles Creek batted well on day 2 batting their remaining 25 overs to post a score of 9/203. Max Blunt making 64 not out.
Patrick Leonard bowled well taking 2/14.
With 100 required from Healesville’s 25 overs Denzel Parson 44 not out and Patrick Leonard occupying the crease 7 not out from 50 balls ensured no batting collapses were going to holt the run chase.
Tom Handasyde 15 not out near the end ensured Healesville passed the score with 4 overs remaining
1st XI Elimination Final: Healesville 2/149 defeated Templeton 148 (written by Josh Handasyde).
Playing off at home in an elimination final, The Bloods won the toss and elected to field.
Max Wallace got the first breakthrough but wickets were few and far between until Josh Handasyde and Nick Zinghini struck in back to back overs before tea leaving Templeton at 3/84 at the break.
After tea Zinghini and Handasyde would continue their partnership taking 3 apiece in a 27 over partnership.
Before Mitch Tampaline and Darcy English would clean up the tail for 148 Runs.
With 13 overs to bat Handasyde and Zinghini would open and be watchful to close at 0/23.
The next day Zinghini would depart before Handasyde and Max Minney put on a solid partnership, weathering the storm before Max was dismissed for 46 with 16 runs to get.
Josh and Ash Hamer would finish off the innings with Handasyde finishing 66 not out and Ash 15 not out.
The team now moves onto the preliminary final against East Ringwood at East Ringwood in a rematch of last seasons preliminary.
2nd XI Elimination Final: Healesville 78 defeated by Yarra Junction 138 (written by Michael Davern).
Healesville bowled first and picked up wickets regularly to bowl Junction out for 138.
Some dropped catches and a game high score from Jordan Poynton (52) proved to be the difference in the game.
Chasing 138, Healesville had to bat before the close of play, lasting 4 wickets but had made 45 runs. Starting day 2, Healesville needed 93 runs with 6 wickets in hand, with Beau Hawkins and Ethan Nikcevich at the crease.
Apart from Ethans 25 Healesville’s batters folded to tight bowling and were dismissed for 78.
5th XI Grand FInal: Healesville 142 defeated by East Ringwood 9/143.
Healesville batted first with Simon Caldicott 42 and Danny Hyndman 37 setting a great foundation.
But Healesville lost constant wickets despite managing to land on 142.
East Ringwood started well at 1-37 but then wickets started tumbling thanks to Lee Caldicott and Danny Hyndman.
East Ringwood were 8/80 and Healesville were looking to be the champions.
But the game turned and a quick fire 37 from the East Ringwood no.9 changed the tides.
Sean Ellis took a fantastic catch in the outfield to remove the dangerous batter and the score was now 9/123.
Healesville could not capture the final wicket and East Ringwood were the Premiers.
