By Chris Handasyde
U14-3 Grand Final: Healesville 8/195 v Wonga Park – day 1 of 2 day game
Travelling to Wonga Park for the first week in a two day Grand Final Match.
Healesville won the toss and elected to bat.
The start was perfect with Raff Morcombe and Henry Harding playing themselves in taking the shine off the ball and bluntening the Wonga Park attack.
Raff retired on 34 and Henry on 9 but with the score up over 50 the platform was set.
Summer Caldicott though would hit a pull shot straight up soon followed by Harry Thomas and Aeden Senti both spooning one to cover taking Healesville into tea at 3/79.
Still a strong position but not quite as commanding.
After tea Harry Duff would soon depart as would Endo Gotch.
Leaving Ryder Hudson and Louis out there to work.
Ryder would bat superbly pushing the ball around and punishing the bad one to eventually retire on 44* truly standing up when the team needed him most.
Louis would soon go out followed very shortly by Max Ferris and James Howden.
All of a sudden with 12 overs left to bat Healesville, the team was 8/140 with Mika Kerst and Raff Morcombe back at the crease.
The pair would bat brilliantly playing the situation by pushing the ball around then upping the anti when the innings was closing.
Raff would bring up his half century then continue his form hitting the final ball of the innings over the fence to finish 72*.
A fantastic knock from the kid standing up on the biggest of stages.
Mika would finish 10* with the value of his knock incredible with wickets falling around him keeping a cool head under pressure playing good defense and running hard between the wickets.
Healesville would finish 8/195 a very defendable score if they bowl well.
U16-4 Grand Final: Healesville 4/89 v South Croydon 3/85 – day 1 of 2 day split innings game
South Croydon batted first and developed partnerships of 21, 35 and 22 runs to build a solid base of 3/85 in their first 25 overs.
Denzel Parsons 2/13 from five overs and Tully Ellis 1/5 frin three overs bowled well and were Healesville’s wicket takers.
Healesville’s innings started with a wobble at 4/23 but resistance was shown by Sam Drummond retiring on 14* from 50 balls before Denzel Parsons 27* from 40 balls and Tom Handasyde 27* from 23 balls bumped the score up to 4/89 from our 25 overs.
The game is in the balance and we look forward to an entertaining day two to determine the premiers.
1st XI Preliminary Final: Healesville v East Ringwood 212 – Match abandoned due to rain – East Ringwood proceed to Grand Final
Needing to win to proceed to the Grand Final and rainfall expected on Sunday, Healesville were determined to put our best foot forward on Saturday.
In hot conditions East Ringwood batted first.
Early wickets were hard to get as East Ringwood played safely.
Tarkyn Nicolandos got the first wicket with a catch to keeper Tom Handasyde.
Tight bowling from Josh Handasyde (1/41 from 23 overs), Darcy English, Luke Chandler and Darren Edwards kept the run rate down.
Ash Hamer got a run out and at 4/110 from 53 overs Healesville were on top.
A 40 run partnership developed but then 2 quick wickets to Tarkyn saw East Ringwood at 6/159.
Tarkyn continued to bowl well and took the remaining wickets to end up with a career best 7/64 from 17 overs.
Healesville dismissed East Ringwood for 212 in the 79th over.
The run chase was never given a chance as day two saw continuous rain and not a ball bowled.
An unfortunate way to be bundled out of the finals.
