VSDCA 2018-19: Clinical Plenty Valley cruises to victory over Ivanhoe
A SOLID batting performance helped Plenty Valley make light work of what appeared a challenging Ivanhoe target as it eased to a six-wicket win on Saturday.
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A SOLID batting performance helped Plenty Valley make light work of what appeared a challenging Ivanhoe target as it eased to a six-wicket win over Ivanhoe on Saturday.
The result kept the Bats at the top of the VSDCA North East ladder with just four home-and-away rounds remaining before finals.
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Playing at Yarrambat War Memorial Park, the Bats bowled first and their attack made early inroads, including the removal of dangerous opposition skipper Raza Rizwan (13) to have the visitors 5-50.
But gun Sri Lankan batsman Kasun Adikari had other ideas.
The 25-year-old left-hander dominated the 127-run partnership he shared with Tom Foster (39), stroking 10 boundaries, only to be dismissed for 95.
In a staggeringly consistent season, the knock was Adikari’s eighth half-century from just 10 innings since moving to Ivanhoe Park.
His innings helped the visitors tally 7-187 from their 45 overs, which could have been more except for the bowling of Dayne Smith (2-20), Simon Black (1-31) and Callum Nankervis (2-39), who took his season tally to 14 wickets.
A 72-run opening partnership between Ryan Pearson (58) and Rory Collins (26) gave the home side the ideal start.
Daniel Heatley made 28 in a 66-run third-wicket partnership with Dickinson (52 not out), before the skipper guided the team home with 22 balls to spare.
Captain-coach James Dickinson was rapt with the team’s performance first-up after the Christmas break.
“It was a really good win,” he said.
“The wicket was pretty good and the outfield quick; we thought 185 was about par.”
Dickinson paid tribute to Smith, who bowled his nine over spell at the start of the innings, and Pearson — who “keeps going from strength to strength” — for their roles in the win.
Plenty Valley now takes on St Bernard’s, Balwyn, Bayswater and Box Hill in the run-in to finals in a stretch of two-day fixtures.
“In the first half of the year we were just looking to be thereabouts and build momentum towards the business end of the season,” Dickinson said.
“We’re in an OK position and looking to keep form.”
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