South East Cricket Association: Vorbach plays sparkling innings for Brighton Union
Matt Vorbach rescued Brighton Union in the SECA Longmuir Shield preliminary final, cracking a century against West Bentleigh.
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Brighton Union will take on East Sandringham in the SECA Longmuir Shield grand final next weekend after handsomely winning the preliminary final over West Bentleigh by 78 runs at Centenary Park.
The Hoops’ victory all came down to a superb display from young middle-order batsman Matthew Vorbach, whose majestic, unbeaten 113 was the cornerstone of their innings of 8-215 on day one of the contest.
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West quick Nick Huttley removed key batsmen Weerasingha Dilranga (10) and Darian Kuzma (6) early to have Union 2-23.
After steadying the ship Stuart Bell (16) and Don Pulukuttiarachichi (28) were disastrously run out leaving the game evenly poised at 4-86.
Vorbach had played positively since his arrival at the creases and when he lost Antony Stojko (10) at 5-120 there was no need to panic.
But Union then lost three more quick wickets (two more to run-outs) to crash to 8-128.
This was the elegant right hander’s cue to take the game on and from there until the end of the day he dominated the bowling, crashing 13 boundaries and even 3 sixes late in the day as he upped the ante.
He added an unbroken 87-run stand with accomplished tailender Rob Blair (16no) to get his team to a defendable total.
Huttley (2-46 off 20 overs) was gallant for West in the hot conditions.
West began in encouraging fashion but then struck trouble losing three wickets in a hurry to slide from 1-38 to 4-42.
From then on Union never took its foot off the gas as Blair (3-33) and Stuart Gara (3-43) got right on top with West limping into the tea break at 6-79.
Upon the resumption Vorbach (3-24) joined the fray to finish off the West reply for 137 despite some resistance from veteran Marc Reid (28).
In Woolnough Shield Omega blistered 7-314 on day one against Cluden.
Openers Lee Dawkins (61) and Matt Caia (78) set up the final tally with a 145-run start and then Glenn Beckett (50), Kane O’Toole (35) and Bryce Judd (36) all contributed breezy knocks to maintain the momentum against the C’s, who tried everything to no avail.
Cluden’s run chase began in rollicking fashion but Judd (4-67) put paid to that and the match looked over at 7-138.
Arvind Dora (81no) and Sam Larkworthy (38) had other ideas adding 97 but the feisty response finished at 255 after they were separated.
In Quiney Shield Bentleigh Uniting compiled 8-201 on the opening day against Le Page Park. Harry Zaia (49) did best for the Lions while Morgan Dennis (4/24) was the standout for Le Page.
Le Page responded with 165. Dan Trease (41) and Jordan Keen (54) battled hard but it was Zaia who decided the contest as he grabbed 5-42 as well as running out Keen when he looked like he might steal it for the Panthers in the battle of the big cats
In D grade Brighton Union ground out 155 against Hampton United, Nick Freeman topping the bill with 38 while Harry Hill (4-39) and Matt Smith (4-50) performed well for the Hammers.
But the United innings never got going on Sunday and it was rolled for 93.
In E Grade Elwood managed 8-223 against Melbourne Dazzlers with Peter “Schimma” Tsiampas making 67. And it went down to the wire with the Dazzlers’ innings coming up 15 runs short closing at 208 despite a great hand from Fahmid Ahmed. He was left unbeaten on 62 as Tony Rourke (4-45) settled the issue.
Hampton United put up 8-211 against Kingston Heath in F Grade with experienced campaigner Andrew Grant (94) using all of his deft skill to keep the Golfers bowlers at bay.
It almost proved enough but Mario Morel responded with a superb 109 and the experienced Leroy De Alwis (24no) got the Golfers home eight wickets down.
East Sandringham is the I Grade premier after it won a nailbiter against CHAG. Richard Sedunary’s 104 got CHAG to 212 but East Sandringham legend Kim Pitt (60no) belted the second last ball of the game for a boundary to steer his team to yet another flag at 6-214.
There were also premiership wins for East Oakleigh in H Grade, East Bentleigh Central in J Grade, Hampton Central in K Grade and Oakleigh District Footballers, who won a thriller over Kingston Heath in the One Day Grade.
SECA GRAND FINALS
Longmuir Shield: East Sandringham v Brighton Union at Centenary Park
Woolnough Shield: Kingston Heath v Omega at Mackie Road Reserve
Quiney Shield: Elwood v Bentleigh Uniting at Le Page Park 1
D Grade: Brighton Union v Vic Cavaliers Sports Club at Hurlingham Park
E Grade: Bentleigh Uniting v Elwood at Le Page Park 2
F Grade: Kingston Heath v Keysborough Park at Southern Road Reserve
G Grade: CUCC Kings v Brighton Union at Keeley Park East
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