All the latest talking points from VTCA action

Just when we thought the VTCA finals picture was becoming clearer, a thrilling day of action turned the race for the top-four on its head. Get up to date with all the movement here.

Jordan Cook of PEGS. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

The penultimate round of the VTCA season had it all.

From upset results which shaped the finals race to standout individual performances.

Here’s everything you need to know.

LIONS’ LATE SHOW CAN’T SAVE PERFECT SEASON

Chasing Yarraville Club’s imposing 7-333, Deer Park’s perfect season came to an end at Hansen Reserve on Saturday. The Lions were in early trouble, falling to 8-186, before a late fightback. Fawad Malook and Upul Bandera combined for a 97-run ninth-wicket partnership before Bandera departed for 67. Malook finished unbeaten on 50. Young spinner Jackson Martin led the Clubbers’ attack with 4-71 while Mitch Johnstone (3-75) and Ash Sweet (3-62) shared the other wickets. Deer Park remains in top spot but is now just six points ahead of Yarraville Club with one round remaining.

Aberfeldie celebrate. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

ABERS GET WRIGHT STUFF

Aberfeldie captain Tallan Wright backed up his batting efforts last week with a dominant bowling performance. Wright scored 81 in Abers’ 5-358 on day one before destroying Craigieburn with the ball, taking 7-33. The skipper took two early wickets before returning later to run through the Eagles’ lower order and seal a 184-run win. Wright now has 352 runs at 50.29 - ranked 14th overall - and 17 wickets at 14.35 - ranked 13th - this season. The result keeps Aberfeldie in fourth ahead of Westmeadows on run-rate. A win over Sunshine United would secure a finals spot, while the Warriors face Craigieburn, hoping the Tigers can do them a favour.

CLEMENTS, DULSHAN, TISHLER SO CLOSE

It was a matter of so close by so far for three unlucky batters in VTCA Senior Division on Saturday. Keilor’s Jarryd Clements was left stranded on 92 not out in the Blues’ 82-run loss to Sydenham-Hillside. Clements’ 113-ball knock included three boundaries and five sixes. St Albans’ Lihan Dulshan also scored an unbeaten 92 not out as the Saints came up nine runs short of Sunshine United. Dulshan showed elite patience, playing 225 balls and hitting just seven boundaries and one six. Finally, perhaps the most unluckiest is Callan Tishler. The Craigieburn opener carried his bat in the Eagles’ 184-run loss to Aberfeldie. Tishler’s undefeated 94 from 197 was super impressive as he hit 11 boundaries and three sixes.

PEGS EYE OFF HOME FINAL

Heading into the final round of the Division 1 season, PEGS remains a chance of hosting a home final. After dispensing Altona North, headlined by skipper Jordan Cook’s century, they currently sit in third position sharing the same 7-2 record with Airport West St Christophers and Sunshine. They’ll face Seddon in the final round. Cook finished unbeaten on 104 off 161 at the weekend to guide his side to a big win.

Jordan Cook of PEGS. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

SEDDON’S MONSTER UPSET

What an impact this game had at both ends of the ladder. Seddon moved clear of West Coburg St Andrew’s in the relegation battle and clawed Airport West St Christopher’s back into the chasing pack. After posting 8-253 on day one led by captain Liam Braithwaite’s century, Seddon’s bowlers were dominant to role the Eagles for 184. Aman Khan led the way with 5-37 off 15 overs while Thomas Matkovic secured 3-28 in a huge upset.

CYMS OUTRIGHT LAUNCH

Williamstown CYMS has jumped into the VTCA Division 2 top-four with a stunning three-wicket outright win over Sunbury at Sunbury Reserve. After rolling the hosts for 97 in the first innings, the visitors declared at 8-150 and then rolled through the Heat for 94 again. With only a handful of overs left in the day, CYMS went hell of leather chasing 41 for victory, getting the job done seven down in six overs in a heart-stopping finish. Jarion Hoyte took 4-32 in Sunbury’s second innings to bring the outright within reach and then top-scored with 23 from 20 balls in the chase. Sunbury almost pinched a reserve outright as CYMS lost 5-13 but Lasanga Guruge (4no) and Ismail Baharami (2no) got the job done.

DIVISION 3 RACE TO GO DOWN TO THE WIRE

Point Cook will welcome Pascoe Vale Hadfield in the final round of the season and the winner will play finals — it’s as simple as that. Both sides lost at the weekend and there is just two points between them. Meanwhile at the other end of the ladder, Werribee Centrals could pull off a miracle and survive relegation if it is to beat Kingsville. Centrals haven’t won a game this season but could still avoid the drop.

ROOSTERS OUTRIGHT LOCKED IN TOP SPOT

Altona Roosters has all but locked up top spot, warming up for VTCA Division 2 finals with a 144-run outright smashing of Keilor Park at Keilor Park Reserve. After posting 168 all out, Roosters rolled the Devils for 87. After a quick-fire 8-103 declared from 22.2 overs, Roosters skittled the hosts for just 40 to wrap up the win. Skipper Ash Peters top-scored in the first innings with 75 before Matt Short took 5-31. Leigh Lewis took 4-12 in the fourth innings to seal victory.

Altona Roosters have all but secured top spot. Picture: Andy Brownbill

USHER GOES PLATINUM

James Usher scored a century and captain Trent Jones continued his dominance in West Newport’s five-wicket win over Tullamarine. Usher smashed 102 not out from 187 balls, hitting 17 boundaries and a six. Chasing Tulla’s 93 all out, the Lions made hard work of it until Usher and Jones came together for a 105-run fifth wicket partnership. Jones departed for 54, backing up his 5-16 with the ball. Usher is now the fourth ranked batsman in VTCA Division 2 with 334 runs at 47.71, while Jones is just behind in fifth with 299 at 37.38. The result secures West Newport a top-four finish while the defeat ends Tullamarine’s top-four hopes.

CONGS MOVE AHEAD IN FINALS RACE

Williamstown Congs’ hopes of finishing in the Division 5 top-four received a major boost after beating fellow finals aspirant Sunshine YCW. Vice-captain Matthew Leach led the way with 5-43, following on from his half-century on day one, to put his side into the top-four. They now have a one-point advantage over YCW heading into their final game against Jacana.

FOURTH FIGHT

With Williamstown CYMS facing a difficult assignment in the final round, fourth place is still very much up for grabs. With one game to play, CYMS is two points ahead of Newport-Digman and Greenvale Kangaroos. Williamstown faces Grand United, while Newport-Digman travels to Tullamarine and Greenvale tackles ladder-leader Altona Roosters. If CYMS upsets Grand then West Newport can snatch a home final with a win over Sunbury.

A BELLBRIDGE STUNNER

Bellbridge has a one-game advantage over Footscray Angliss and Roxburgh Park heading into the final round after stunning ladder leader Moonee Valley. Bailey Moffatt led the way with 3-11 as the home side were rolled for just 96, securing Bellbridge a 36-run win. Roxburgh Park’s loss to East Coburg saw the make up of the top-four dramatically change. Point Cook Centrals moved into third position.

DAY ONE REVIEW

The race for finals cricket and the battle to survive relegation is heating up in the VTCA.

Here’s everything you need to know about the latest round of action.

YOUNG GUN’S CROWNING MOMENT

St Francis de Sales are excited by Lucas McKinnon’s potential and it’s easy to see why. Against premiership contender Sunshine, McKinnon hit his first senior century with an outstanding 126 runs from 145 balls to lead his side to a massive 7-399 from their 80 overs. His innings included 17 boundaries and two 6s while he also shared a 187-run partnership with Aaron Maynard who was run out on 92. It’s a must win clash for St Francis given they sit outside the top-four with just one more game to play after this fixture is completed.

HILL RUNNING UP THOSE RUNS

Michael Hill scored his second century of the VTCA Senior Division season to put Yarraville Club in the box seat against premiership rival Deer Park on Saturday. Hill’s 127 came from 164 balls and included 13 boundaries and a pair of sixes. The former Essendon Premier captain has saved his biggest scores for the big games, with his earlier ton coming against third-placed Sydenham-Hillside. He also has three half-centuries and jumps to 476 runs for the season, which could see him finish the round second on the competition run-scorers charts. Trent Lawford hit 51 and Nandhalal Sangaran 43 as Yarraville Club posted 7-333 at Hansen Reserve.

CAPTAIN’S KNOCK FOR STORM

Sydenham-Hillside is in a strong position against top-four hopeful Keilor after an Anthony Alleyne century. The Storm skipper fired off 103 runs from 134 balls, hitting 13 boundaries and a six, at Hillside Reserve. It’s Alleyne’s first ton of the season and takes him to 304 runs in 10 matches. Opener Deakyn McIntyre scored 55 and partner Ishan Peiris notched 46 to give Sydenham a fast start. Blues ace Matt Gaskett was the leading wicket-taker, claiming 3-83.

Sydenham-Hillside’s Anthony Alleyne. Picture: Andy Brownbill

THURSTON LIFTS ABERS

With it’s top-four spot on the line, Aberfeldie needed its big guns to fire and Charlie Thurston answered the call on Saturday. The Englishman hit 95 – his second score in the 90s this season – against Craigieburn at Clifton Park. Skipper Tallan Wright (81), Anthony Barton (79) and Kieran Gray (62 not out) also impressed as Abers racked up an imposing 5-358. Aberfeldie currently sits fourth on run-rate, equal on points with Keilor, St Albans and Westmeadows with two rounds remaining.

FOOTSCRAY UNITED AHEAD IN RELEGATION BATTLE

Footscray United will secure its place in Division 1 for next season if it can successfully complete a run chase against West Coburg St Andrews next week. The Dogs rolled the visitors for 151 with Frank Hoang and Gishan Sapukotana both taking three wickets. At stumps they had James Deasy and Sanju Jayasekara both unbeaten on 13. United sits one game clear of the last placed Redbacks in the penultimate round of the season. Meanwhile, Seddon who are level on 12 points with West Coburg St Andrew’s are taking on the ladder leader.

TULLA’S FINALS HOPES FADE

After suffering relegation last season, Tullamarine looks likely to miss finals in Division 2. Coming into the penultimate round, the club sat fifth, six points outside the top-four. However, disaster struck on Saturday against third-placed West Newport at Loft Reserve. Lions captain Trent Jones ripped through Tulla, taking 5-16 from 11 overs. Despite Thameera Mudiyanselage’s 51, the hosts were all out 93 in 39 overs. West Newport then steamed to 4-139 in 41 overs at stumps on Day 1 of the two-dayer. James Usher is unbeaten on 68, while Jones’ fine match continue with 30 not out.

JAYAWEERA’S HOT SPELL CONTINUES

Ruwan Jayaweera is storming home to end the season for Moonee Valley. He finished with figures of 6-47 as the Division 4 ladder leader gained control of the contest against finals aspirant Bellbridge. Along with Steven Hazelwood’s 3-26, Bellbridge was all out for 142. At stumps, Moonee Valley was 3-45 off 14 overs.

RANGIKA’S HUGE PERFORMANCE

Shohan Rangika enjoyed the opportunity he got against Moonee Ponds. The Burnside Springs United middle order batsman hit a whopping 165 to guide his side to an impressive 323 on day one. It was easily his best performance of the season, having scored no more than 47 previously. On the other side, Cooper Albers bowled consistently and was rewarded with figures of 7-88. Rangika was an off-season signing from Craigieburn.