VSDCA finals: Pearson sparkles as Oakleigh defies form to topple Werribee

Brighton and Malvern fell out of premiership contention after three tremendous matches to start the south-west section Sub-District finals.

Caulfield medium-pacer Dale Denny during his important spell against Malvern. Picture: Valeriu Campan

A stirring win for Oakleigh.

A season-ending loss for Brighton.

And an early exit for Michael Beer’s Malvern.

Ball had the better of bat as the first Saturday of the VSDCA south-west section finals reduced the number of teams in premiership contention from six to four, with the Tonners and Roosters saying goodbye to 2021-22.

Oakleigh (fifth) produced the surprise, defeating Werribee (third) at Chirnside Park.

Was it a surprise? The Oaks hadn’t been in great form, but they gave the sort of performance VSDCA watchers have come to expect of them in the finals.

They knocked over the Bees for 140 and replied with 5-141, having been one wicket down for a good part of the trip.

Ryan Pearson opened the bowling and the batting for the Oaks and was man of the match with his innings of 81 off 110 balls (2 sixes, 7 fours) and figures of 1-14 off eight overs.

He and Brendan McGuinness (34) put on 95 for the second wicket to keep the Tigers out of the game.

Caulfield spinner Jacob Thorne. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Earlier Alexander Jones (3-35 off nine overs) and Matt Stamps (4-24 off nine) ensured Werribee’s strong batting line-up didn’t go past 150.

“We didn’t have the best month leading into the finals, but we knew once we were there that we had to play a good brand of cricket, and yesterday we brought a whole new energy to the game,’’ McGuinness said.

“We had a pretty clear game plan with their top-order, having played them only three weeks ago.

“We had a focus for each batsman and we managed to execute. I thought our bowling was exceptional. The bowlers were switched on from ball one.’’

A disappointed Malvern batsman Tom Rickarby heads for the pavilion. Picture: Valeriu Campan

He tipped praise on the “tried and tested’’ Jones – “he loves being in the contest in finals and performing under pressure’’ – and Pearson, who was “outstanding’’.

“He played a superb innings,’’ McGuinness said.

“He was really patient and upped the ante when he had to. He kept the pressure off the guys coming in.’’

The Tigers can call on their double chance but they’ll have to visit minor premier Caulfield this Saturday.

At Caulfield Park, Malvern (102) barely got past 100 but the Fielders lost seven wickets and knew some tense times in achieving their target.

They were thankful for the great Graeme Rummans’ knock of 38, which ended with a run-out, and Dale Denny’s 16 not out.

The Roosters turned the screw – and the ball – with spin, with former Test man Beer leading off with 3-18 off nine overs, plucking out top three Jono Aikins (13), Jacob Thorne (1) and Dan Forbes (11).

Tim Arbon and Josh Drummond chipped in as Malvern, playing its 113th match against its great rival, put some hard questions to the host team.

In the end it couldn’t cover a lack of runs.

“We were 20 short,’’ Beer said.

“If we got to 120, which was the conversation we had halfway through, we were well and truly in the game.

“We bowled really well and fought as hard as we could. But, yeah, just needed those 20 more.’’

Denny (2-18 off nine overs) nipped one back to claim the big wicket of Malvern star Tom Rickarby for 13, Thorne (3-18) scalped a trio of left-handers in James Lynch, Drummond and Mick McKenna, and quickie Andy King (3-17 off six) docked the Malvern tail.

Thorne said it wasn’t an easy pitch to score on and losing three early wickets put Caulfield under pressure.

Malvern batsman James Lynch, watched by Caulfield keeper James Small. Picture: Valeriu Campan

He said Rummans was the only batsman who looked comfortable.

“He was the catalyst for us getting home,’’ Thorne said. “Denny was good at the end too, obviously under a fair bit of pressure. He held his nerve pretty well.’’

Asked if he had any firm thoughts on who would win the premiership, Beer said: “I think Werribee and Caulfield have really good attacks … we might know by next weekend out of that game, but Caulfield playing at home is an advantage.

“Probably think it’s a Caulfield-Oakleigh final if I was a betting man. But I’m not. The Pearson who made runs yesterday holds the key for Oakleigh.’’

At EE Gunn Reserve, Brendan Barry’s superb display of medium pace helped Ormond protect its total of 9-152, dismissing Brighton for 128.

Barry took the first four wickets, removing openers Johnny Damiano (0) and Brenton Murphy (5) from the scoreboard end, then swinging to the other to pick up Charles Dowling (LBW for 18) and Peter Cassidy (bowled for 0).

He finished with 4-20 off nine overs of immaculate medium pace.

James Wild spun one past Jack Rutter’s (1) uncertain press forward to leave the Tonners 5-69.

Of course, while champion Ricky Damiano was in the middle Brighton was the favourite to win the match.

He was in mint form, playing shots all around the wicket after getting off the mark with a lofted flick off his pads to the square leg boundary. It was done in the effortless manner of a horse tail flicking away a fly.

Damiano found a steady partner in Darcy Kennelly and they took the score to 100.

Two runs later, the Brighton skipper swept Tom Buchanan’s off-spin high to mid-wicket, where veteran Rodney Bird gratefully took the catch.

Damiano had to go for 57, off 66 balls and with 8 fours.

Kennelly was not out on 22 as the last four wickets tumbled for 14 and Brighton’s season was over, despite it finishing fourth.

Wild’s 3-27 went with his important innings of 41.

Cassidy had been outstanding in Brighton’s bowling effort, capturing 4-15 off nine.