VSDCA South West: Oakleigh captain Sam Jones guided the Oaks to a sixth consecutive win

Oakleigh captain Sam Jones produced the perfect captain’s knock while there was also a century and a five-for in the VSDCA’s return to play. Read it and see our two picture galleries here.

Sam Jones led from the front. Picture: Rob Leeson.

Oakleigh needed someone to stand up – and the captain delivered.

Walking out to bat at 3-35 in pursuit of 198, Oaks skipper Sam Jones struck a matchwinning 75 not out to steer his side to a crucial Subbies victory over Taylors Lakes.

The Oaks, who started the season 0-2, have won six in a row and hurried to equal second on the ladder.

Oaks coach Matt Grace (30) batted with Jones towards the back-end of the innings and lauded the captain’s calmness at the crease.

“I had an opportunity to bat with him towards the end of it and what was impressive, and probably the reason he’s our captain, was how collected and calm he was,” he said.

Sam Jones. Picture: Rob Leeson.

“They changed their bowlers around a lot, we had some rain change conditions and they (Taylors Lakes) set some really good fields and didn’t give us bad bowling.

“We had a couple of overs where they had us cheap, one or two runs four balls into the over needing six and he was just sitting there going ‘don’t worry’, there was no panic.

“He’s come off a couple of years where he would’ve liked a few more runs himself but he’s taken the captaincy by the horns and it’s got the best out of him.

“It’s the third time in about six games he’s led through tough situations or really important hours of play, he’s shown why he’s captain.

“His batting in the past six weeks has been phenomenal, he’d probably be averaging 45 in the past four or five games.”

Oakleigh has Port Melbourne, Spotswood and Williamstown – all out of the top six – ahead before an important showdown with ladder-leading Brighton in round 13.

The new-look Oaks are poised to challenge for a finals berth despite their “ugly” start to the summer.

“We haven’t made finals in two seasons, the group has changed a lot and Sam is in his first season of captaincy,” Grace said.

“We’ve got Ned Bailey over from England, Alex Jones back from injury … we’ve got half a dozen new players there.

“To be 0-2 to start the season, we were sort of cutting ourselves a bit of slack and saying ‘let’s find ourselves a bit’ despite the second loss being ugly against Caulfield.

“We’ve managed to put together really good long periods of cricket and this was the one where the momentum we had over the break really gets tested.”

Elsewhere, Brighton didn’t require a trademark Ricky Damiano innings to continue its winning run.

Damiano, who played for the Tonners with the MPCA returning a week later, made just 6 in Brighton’s five-wicket win over Elsternwick.

Glen Parker, Peter Cassidy and Will Sist all took three wickets for the Tonners before Cooper Bingham scored an important 41no.

A strong start with bat and ball propelled Ormond to a tight win over Williamstown.

Openers Zac Sleeman (65) and Declan Waddington (39) put on 85 for the first wicket to help the Monders set 158.

Veteran seamer Rodney Bird then got his side off to a flying start, rattling the stumps of Towners opener Fraser Hay.

Bird took 3-11 as Ormond claimed a 17-run win.

Ormond bowler Rodney Bird. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Malvern, meanwhile, sits with Oakleigh and Hoppers Crossing in equal second after a Nick Taylor-inspired win over Moorabbin.

An unbeaten century from Taylor pushed the Roosters to 218 before they dismissed the visitors for 146.

Taylor hit 12 boundaries in his 138-ball stay.

Jacob Thorne produced yet another all-round masterclass to guide Caulfield over Port Melbourne.

Thorne paired his 5-42 in the first innings with a strong 47 in the second.

The Fielders chased the Borough’s 200 with five wickets in hand and two overs to spare.

Altona ensured it maintained pace with the competition’s top-six upon with a hard fought win over a struggling Werribee.

Matthew Turcinovich top scored with 37no as Altona chased down Werribee 9-188 inside the final over.

Hoppers Crossing remained in second spot on the ladder with a 122-run thumping of Melton,as Daryl Sunder Ferrario hit his third half-century of the season.

Harshit Takkar led the attack with three wickets as Melton were rolled for 97, chasing 219.

Spotswood picked up a vital win in the race for the top-six, with Lachlan McKenna producing his best bowling figures, 4-17, since the early stages of last season to set up a seven-wicket win against Yarraville.

The Eagles were all out for 109 before Spotty eased to victory behind a half-century from Jarrod Martignago.