VSDCA 2018-19: Plenty Valley trounces Noble Park in grand final
Perennial finalist Plenty Valley secured its second VSDCA premiership in five seasons with a dominant 54-run win over Noble Park.
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Perennial finalist Plenty Valley secured its second VSDCA premiership in five seasons with a dominant 54-run win over Noble Park.
The Bats exercised tremendous control with the ball on Sunday to starve the Parkers of opportunities to score, with only the prolific Luke Wintle displaying sufficient ability to pierce the infield when the chance arose.
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Plenty Valley captain-coach James Dickinson was ecstatic to claim the North-East title in his first season in charge, saying it was “reward for the effort we’ve put in all year”.
“We put together a strong team — it’s good when it comes off,” he said.
Dickinson said winning the toss played a big part in the outcome of the decider at Pat Wright Senior Oval as his team put 212 on the board.
The right-hander led from the front, spending close to five hours at the crease to make 79 — his highest score for the club.
Partnerships with Justin Di Battista (38), Daniel Heatley (28) and Rory Collins (21) proved crucial, before man-of-the-match Marasinghe Perera produced a spell for the ages.
The leg-spinner took 8-27 in 10 overs and finished with 8-46 as the Bats crumbled to lose 6-29 after powering to 4-183, with Jai Lemire (24) the only other batsman to make an impact.
In reply, the home side reached 39 without loss before the Bats struck.
Ryan Pearson took the first scalp and from then, a series of batsmen came and went, with only Wintle, who made 46, standing tall.
Pearson grabbed 3-19 from 15 overs, finishing the season with 682 runs and 30 wickets — 11 of which came during finals.
Callum Nankervis (2-32) and Heatley (3-35) chipped in, but it was the return of spearhead Simon Black (2-53) that turned the tide in the visitors’ favour, as Noble Park went into the tea break at 6-89.
From there, the result was a mere formality, with tailender Shehan Perera (27) displaying inventiveness in using the pace of the ball to his advantage, but it was too little too late.
“It’s a huge battle to chase runs in finals,” Dickinson said.
“I think to get over 200 was a really competitive score — although we were nervous it wasn’t enough on that wicket.”
Building pressure and “suffocating” the batsmen, Dickinson said the Bats took a leaf out of Noble Park’s book to mainly use spin bowlers, but paid tribute to Black breaking the game open.
“We have built over the last two years,” he said.
“We have taken the time to get the process right and get the team together.
“It was really good to see things pay off.”
Dickinson said Pearson was the standout player of the season, while also paying tribute to opening bowler Dayne Smith, who only took the field for the first time halfway through the season.
Parkers skipper Wintle said he was “bitterly disappointed to lose” but was proud of the group for the season.
“It’s a brilliant place to play cricket,” he said.
“We put in a really good year. Lots of clubs would love to play the grand final.
“We got the opportunity, but unfortunately we couldn’t get the job done this time.”
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