VSDCA John Craig Shield: Ormond defeats Coburg to go into grand final

Strong with bat and ball, Ormond will take a long winning streak into the final of the prestigious Under 15 series.

Jeremy Murray after his four-wicket haul for Ormond.

It was Ormond’s day.

It invariably is in the John Craig Shield.

The Monders will play for their fourth VSDCA Under 15 Craig Shield premiership in six years after defeating Coburg in today’s semi-final at EE Gunn Reserve.

Asked to bat first on a wicket that had spent the night under covers, they didn’t score as heavily as they had in other games.

But, showing they batted right down the order, they raised 9-171 off their 45 overs.

The question was asked between innings: would it be enough?

It was.

Coburg was dismissed for 103 in the 38th over and 64 of the runs came from No 3 Reyaan Farooq, who had an outstanding carnival, having hit centuries in the second and third rounds.

Once he was out the Coburg innings fell away quickly.

Ormond paceman Jeremy Murray captured 4-18 off 8.1 overs, following up his 2-24 in the quarter-finals.

His new-ball partner Rory Wright took 2-15 and Alex Turner picked up 3-21 off seven overs.

Earlier, Coburg quickie Daniel Wilczynski continued his excellent series with 4-42 off nine overs.

He picked up prolific Ormond opener Tyler Hunter for a duck in his first over to put the home team under pressure.

The Monders had no one go past 50. But they had useful knocks from opener Cooper Rojki (21), Jesse Van Rooyen (39), Tynan Forster (38) and Will Scott (19).

Although Hunter missed out, he’s had a great time of it in the Craig Shield, hitting 107 against Elsternwick, 130 against Malvern and 53 not out against Moorabbin.

Van Rooyen has also been prominent with 349 runs, Rojko has 317, Forster 259, Turner 212 and captain Charlie Wood 211.

Wright (15) and Wood (13) lead the Monders’ wicket list.

Ormond has won its past 18 matches in the Under 15 carnival as its strives for back-to-back premierships.

More, it has lost only four games in the past six years, putting together a formidable record of 45-4.

The Monders will meet Brunswick in the grand final at the Cramer St ground in Preston on Sunday.

The shield is named after legendary VSDCA and Ormond batsman John Craig, who operated the scoreboard today after earlier helping to prepare the pitch at The Gunn.