Seville secures top spot

By Keith Thompson
SEVILLE hung on to the top as players took to YVCA fields in beautiful sunshine over the weekend to complete the final home-and-away matches of the season.
In round 12 of the D. J. Strachan Shield, Wandin hosted Seville and had a meagre total of 103 to defend. Jason Kennedy tried valiantly with his 20 runs, but Ishara Amarasinghe was the destroyer with 5/29.
Seville reached 8/159 in reply and declared at tea on day two. Shane Senior made 39, Tim Dwyer 29 and Andrew Kay 28 as Seville’s win kept it perched atop the ladder.
Woori Yallock hosted Yarra Junction and reached 9/248 on day one with Michael King making an impressive 92. Brad Jones was dominant with the ball, taking 6/78. Yarra Junction was all out for 163 in reply with Ben Lever scoring 41. Michael King completed a great individual match with 6/22.
Healesville capitulated for 94 in its first innings against Warburton-Millgrove, which made 234 in reply. Michael Walker missed out on a century by a measly five runs.
Warburton asked Healesville to bat again and dismissed it a second time for 122. Warburton came away with the outright win.
Mount Evelyn made a huge 316 against Hoddles Creek with Kane Jones (97) and G. Fraser (83) the mainstays at the crease. Hoddles Creek never got close to Mount Evelyn’s tally, dismissed for 132. Scott Davis toiled hard for his 31 while M. Whitehead took 3/2 and Kane Jones 3/56.
In the final match of the grade, Silvan’s 115 was still enough to defeat Coldstream by 10 wickets and take outright points.
The D. J. Strachan semi-finals, at the stage, look like Seville v Mount Evelyn and Silvan v Warburton-Millgrove. The match-ups will be finalised at an association meeting early in the week.
LADDER
Seville 117.68, Silvan 112.60, Warburton-Millgrove 110.97, Mount Evelyn 106.63, Woori Yallock 97.34, Yarra Junction 82.53, Hoddles Creek 69.69, Healesville 67.59, Wandin 45.19, Coldstream 6.39.