VSDCA: Bowling brilliance as Hoppers Crossing and Oakleigh charge towards finals in south-west section

Hoppers Crossing created its own piece of VSDCA history on Tuesday night. Captain-coach Simon Lambert opens up on the “nightmares” and the key moments leading to the occasion.

Hoppers Crossing celebrate their maiden VSDCA T20 title. Photo: Facebook.

Hoppers Crossing has a significant piece of club history but captain-coach Simon Lambert admits there was a few nervous moments along the way.

The Cats secured the VSDCA T20 crown on Tuesday night with a thrilling five-runwin over Elsternwick.

It was a victory which secured Hoppers’ maiden trophy for the First XI in the competition.

“The result was an indication of how we’ve grown as a group in the last couple of years,” he said.

“In the past, we’ve lost a few of those tight games. But this season we’ve managed to get across the line in those types of games.

“It’s the hallmarks of a good side when you’re able to win the close ones. The signs are there which are really pleasing so hopefully we can continue building from there.”

After being sent into bat by Elsternwick, the visitors posted 3-157 with Lambert top scoring with 67 runs off 55 balls including nine boundaries and a six.

Shijit Chandran contributed with 38 off 29 including three 6s while Lambert’s fellow opener Parneet Bachhal finished with 28 off 24.

Hoppers’ made early in road in the home side’s run chase with guest player, Yuvraj Singh, claiming the wicket of Elsternwick opener Lincoln Edwards.

As the wickets began to tumble, Sing (3-32) and Abbas Faiyaz (3-18) leading the way, all signs pointed to a comfortable win for the visitors.

But Roshan Livera arrived at the crease and almost shaped as the matchwinner, hitting 29 off 19, before he was dismissed going for a reserve slog sweep in the final oever.

“We were in a position where we felt in control then when Roshan started hitting a few cleanly we thought ‘oh sh**’ we could throw this away,” Lambert said.

“He hit a few reverse sweeps before we got him cleanly and to be honest, he was giving us nightmares because it was hard to set a field for him. We were fortunate he miscued that one.

“To their credit, they never went away and always fought back when we thought we had a bit of momentum.”

Lambert said he was pleased to have access to Singh, who plays Premier Cricket for Melbourne University, throughout the tournament.

“He played a key role for us with the bat and ball,” he said.

“I’ve known him since I came out from England about 10 years ago and he was only 13 or 14 then. To see how he’s developed his game and play with again is fantastic.

“He won us the semi-final with the bat and he bowls mystery spin, he’s almost the perfect T20 cricketer.

“He was crucial for us.”

After claiming their first piece of silverware, Hoppers now will aim to take out the south-west section.

They sit second on the ladder and face Port Melbourne in a two-day game this weekend where a win would all but guarantee finals.

Hoppers Crossing eyeing Subbies history

— Simon McEvoy and Brayden May

Hoppers Crossing has jumped into second spot after producing a bowling masterclass in VSDCA south-west section on Saturday as it eyes a piece of club history.

New-ball partners Brett Smith and Harshit Takkar took five wickets apiece as Hoppers routed Taylors Lakes for 89 to secure an 83-run victory at Lionheart Oval.

And Cats gloveman Justin Goegan snared five catches in a flawless display behind the stumps.

Takkar began the rout with a wicket in his first over, and Smith struck minutes later as Taylors Lakes crashed to 2-0, chasing 172.

Brett Smith had it hooping around. Picture: Andy Brownbill

The Hoppers slips fielders were on high alert as Smith pounded away on a good length and swung the ball.

He grabbed three wickets in quick succession to have Taylors Lakes reeling at 5-32.

Takkar then put his stamp on the game with four wickets in a row as the home side crashed from 5-63 to 9-78.

Smith completed the job by clean bowling No. 11 Prageeth Edirisinghe, Taylors Lakes’ run chase expiring in the 47th over.

Smith finished with 5-24 off 19.3 overs, while Takkar took 5-33 off 16 overs.

Smith is up to 25 wickets for the season, at an average of 10.72.

“The conditions were tailor made for Brett,” Hoppers captain-coach Simon Lambert said.

“He’s one of the best swing bowlers in the competition and he’s having a really strong season. The pitch was a little soft on top and he was able to make the most of the opportunity.

“Harshit bowls with a little bit of extra pace and he’s done a lot of his work with the older ball throughout the season. He came back in his second spell and was able to take more lower order wickets.

“It’s a role he’s been very effective in this season.

“As a team we’ve bowled well all season, they’re not leaking many runs.”

Hoppers Crossing has banked eight wins to position itself for a tilt at the title but the club’s first piece of Subbies First XI silverware could come as soon as Tuesday night.

The Cats will take on Elsternwick in the final of the T20 competition.

“It’s a massive opportunity,” Lambert said.

“We’ve been playing some good cricket across all forms this season, we’ve only lost two out of 15. We do like to go out and take the game on so T20 does suit our line-up.

“There is a bit of a challenge going from two-day games to the shorter format where you’ve got to be striking the ball well. But you never know what a good score might be, look at our game last week where both sides were around the 80s”.

Aayushdeep Pathania was impressive for Oakleigh. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Oakleigh demolished Williamstown at Warrawee Park with a stunning display of pace and seam bowling. The Oaks had the visitors reeling at 3-3 in an explosive start to the second day’s play. Oaks paceman Aayushdeep Pathania sent Willy opener Antone Harb’s middle stump flying to start the collapse. New-ball partner Alexander Jones chimed in, also disturbing the furniture as Williamstown slumped to 6-29. Sam Jones took a sharp catch at gully as Pathania claimed his fourth. Left-arm spinner Madurawalage Jayasundera completed the job. Jones finished with 5-32 off 17 overs, and is up to 24 wickets for the season, while Pathania took 4-17 off 13 overs, with six maidens. Oakleigh (9-2) sits three points clear on top of the ladder.

Ormond had to settle for first innings points after falling six runs short of outright victory over Melton. Jamie Price cracked 83 off 82 balls as the Monders, in reply to 123, rushed to 8-175 before declaring. Batting again, Melton was shot out for 139 in its second dig, with Ormond champ Rodney Bird taking 4-27. Set 88 off 14 overs to take maximum points, Ormond finished 7-82, with Bailey Moon blasting a couple of sixes in a gallant bid, making 46no off 35 balls.

Oli Hayes (4-32) and Jacob Thorne (4-40 off 31.4 overs) bowled Caulfield to a gripping 18-run win over Brighton. Hayes took the first three wickets before Thorne spun a web as Brighton’s pursuit of 153 ended in the 74th over, all out for 135. Caulfield skipper and wicketkeeper James Small took six catches behind the stumps.

Yarraville’s top order fired to set up a rousing run chase win over Elsternwick. In reply to 255, Yarraville skipper Joshua Hahnel and No. 4 Ashish Mathew scored half-centuries in a total of 6-258 off 78.3 overs. Hahnel made 52 (with 9 fours) and Mathew 66 (with 6 fours), while opener Matthew Harrison (33), Tejas Hari (27), Michael Sheedy (29no) and Akshat Buch (18no) made key contributions.

Altona improved its record to 7-4 with a clinical win over Moorabbin. Defending 231, Altona rolled the Saints for 135 in 54.5 overs, with Rory Medlock (3-18) and Charlie Ward (3-14) doing the damage. Altona has cemented fifth spot.