By Chris Handasyde
1st XI Healesville 9/211 defeated Wantirna Sth 4/157 (written by Josh Handasyde)
Wantirna South won the toss and sent Healesville into bat at Don Road Oval. Healesville’s two most reliable batsmen Nick Zinghini and Tom Handasyde fell cheaply and the score was 2/22. Josh Handasyde 23 and Ash Hamer 53 got the innings back on track. Great hitting from Luke Chandler 30 and Grant Braden 45 not out (off 25 balls) as well as a run a ball 15 not out from Denzel Parsons boosted the Bloods’ score to 6/211 off 40 overs. Wantirna South only lost 4 wickets but never looked like chasing the score down finishing on 4/157.
2nd XI Healesville 39 defeated by Yarra Junction 151 (written by Michael Davern)
First game of the year for 2025 and the 2nd XI went across the Yarra to take on Yarra Junction, losing the toss and out to bowl first. With Beau Hawkins (1/26) striking early taking a wicket in the third over, Healesville got off to a good start. Premdeep Singh (2/36) was next to cause some disruption to Junction’s batting efforts getting two wickets in an over to slow down the run rate also with Sam Keith (1/10) snagging a wicket of his own from the other end bringing their score to 4/58 in the 12th over and Healesville were well on top. After a bit of a partnership had formed, Riley Cameron (2/21) and Michael Davern (4/29) bowled together in partnership taking wickets to break the scoring run and to finish Yarra Junction’s innings getting them all out for 151 in the 35th over. After a good session in the field keeping a good standard, with Mark Powell taking 4 catches himself behind the stumps, Healesville had put themselves in a good position to take the win. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case with a wicket falling in the very first ball of their innings and Healesville were off to a horror start that kept going. Despite a fighting effort from Ben Mackey (8) fighting off a barrage of short balls and Ben Wallace (17*) who has been showing great patience with the bat the last few rounds, Healesville came undone and were bowled out for 39 runs in the 19th over. Healesville take on Eastfield away next week looking to put this game behind them and get back on the road to finals cricket.
3rd XI Healesville 147 defeated by Kilsyth 2/149
Batting first Healesville got off to a fast start with Adam Keath scoring his 25 with five boundaries and a six. Tyler Braden provided support with 19 but constant wickets hampered a big score. Aman Singh 18 and Summer Caldicott 15* got Healesville through to 147. Kilsyth has some strong hitters and they chased the runs in 23 overs.
4th XI – Healesville 109 defeated by Lusatia Park 6/198
Playing on a hard and fast Coldstream Primary School oval, Lusatia Park batted first and got off to a fast start. Healesville were fielding a very young team with five players 13 or younger. After 18 overs, Lusatia Park were 1/125 but the young Healesville players fought it out and restricted Lusatia Park to 73 runs in the next 18 overs which was a fantastic effort. Max Ferris 1/16 off 6 overs was the best bowler with great support from Mika Kerst 1/28, Taylor Caldicott 1/32 and Harry Thomas 0/35 all bowling six overs in the heat. Healesville’s batting lacked some power but a fine innings from Ryder Hudson 17, Brad Reid 15, Max Ferris 21 and back for his first game this year Tojo Nolan 19* saw Healesville reach 109.
5th XI – Healesville had the bye
