DVCA 2018-19: Lower Plenty beats Eltham in Money Shield semi-final

Lower Plenty is one victory away from a spot in the top flight of the Diamond Valley Cricket Association after toppling Eltham in the weekend’s Money Shield semi-final.

John Kulikowski played a key role in Lower Plenty’s win. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Lower Plenty is one victory away from a spot in the top flight of the Diamond Valley Cricket Association after toppling Eltham in the weekend’s Money Shield semi-final.

The Lions will tackle Heidelberg in the four-day decider, which starts this weekend, with the winner to earn promotion to Barclay Shield.

Lower Plenty’s bowlers set up the triumph, rolling The Panthers for 107 on the opening day.

But the win was far from straight forward as the Lions lost four wickets late on Saturday to crash to 4-24 at stumps.

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Nathan Gardiner (43 not out) and Ben Rowe (28 not out) held firm under pressure with an unbroken 61-run stand, stamping their side’s ticket to the grand final as it finished 5-109.

“Very overwhelmed at the moment,” coach Darren Pybus said.

“We played a very good side. Obviously with Lloyd Mash and Mark Minney, who’s a Diamond Valley legend, in Eltham’s side – to keep that side to 107 was an unbelievable performance by our bowlers.

“Everyone bowled and fielded to the plans, which was very, very rewarding.”

Skipper Josh Henkel led the bowling attack with aplomb, returning 6-38 from 18.1 overs and grabbing the big wickets of Mash (16), Minney (0) and Glen Turner (59).

He was ably assisted by John Kulikowski (2-24 from 19 overs) and John Meekins (1-12 from 11).

“He just bowled beautifully,” Pybus said of Henkel.

“He actually had two dropped catches early as well. We dropped Lloyd Mash on a duck.

“He led from the front like all good captains do.”

Lower Plenty finished fifth in 2017-18 and has qualified for the season finale after finishing the home-and-away rounds in third position.

“We thought we were a good side,” Pybus said.

“We dropped a couple of games at the start of the year when we had some players away with other commitments. We played really good cricket until Christmas.

“First game after Christmas, we beat Lalor Stars who were on top of the ladder and the second week we played Banyule, who went to the top of the ladder, and we beat them.

“We knew our best cricket was good cricket – we just had to make it and we did that.

“We’re happy to be where we are at the moment.”