Catch up on all the highlights from the weekend’s VSDCA North-West action
VSDCA North-West wrap: A Melton debutant’s match-winning spell, Luke Davis chasing records at St Bernard’s and Werribee snatches victory from the jaws of defeat.
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Saturday saw the conclusion of Round 12 in the VSDCA North-West competition.
Just three rounds remain in the season with plenty of teams vying for a top-six finish.
Williamstown wrapped up an outright victory to launch back into finals contention, while the top-four looks to have separated itself from the pack.
Meanwhile, there were sensational debuts and milestone performances across the weekend.
Check out all the major highlights below.
DEBUTANT DELIGHT AT MELTON
James Robertson is probably never going to forget his First XI debut for Melton, The man affectionately known as Peaches tore through Strathmore to finish with 5-18 from nine overs to guide the Lions to a 82-run on Saturday. Having already taken 20 wickets in the Second XI during his first season with the club, his form simply couldn’t be ignored. The former Melton South bowler claimed five of the first six wickets of Strathmore’s innings. Fellow debutant Lachlan Peterson also claimed a scalp.
DAVIS CONTINUES TO CLIMB RECORD BOOKS
Luke Davis continues to cement himself as one of St Bernard’s all-time greats with another match-winning performance on Saturday. The wily paceman grabbed 5-13 to strangle Altona (108) and secure the Snowdogs (9-241) a strong 133-run victory at Grant Reserve. The season-best haul takes him to 18 wickets and brings him closer to all-time club records for total wickets and First XI wickets. Davis sits second in both categories with 477 and 368 respectively, chasing brother Chris’ 522 overall record and Craig Osborne’s First XI mark of 391.
BEES SNATCH VICTORY FROM JAWS OF DEFEAT
A run-out is all that stood between Werribee and Ivanhoe at the weekend. Huzaifa Akram was run out chasing a quick single leaving Ivanhoe just one run short of tying Werribee’s 227. Late-order hitting from Tom Corrie (50 runs off 87 balls) and skipper Henry Tyler (29 off 35) had given the visitors a sniff but with victory in sight the Saints lost 3-0 to fall agonisingly short. Michael Kelly finished with 4-33 while James Freeman claimed 3-38 and the match winning run-out.
CARROLL, PEARCE CLEAN UP LAKES
Second-placed Kew looked in strife after being dismissed for 124 by Taylors Lakes at Lionheart Reserve. However, superb bowling performances by Jack Carroll and Sam Pearce kept the Blues’ finals charge on track. Carroll finished with 5-34 and Pearce claimed 5-24 to knock the Lions over for 102 and secure a 22-run victory. Carroll is now second on the competition wicket-taking charts with 27 scalps at an average of 10.04, while Pearce is sixth with 24 at 10.5.
BOUCKLEY, DORIC LIFT WICKS TO INCREDIBLE COMEBACK
At 8-68, chasing 169, Brunswick looked finished. Lewis Bouckley and Matt Doric were the heroes, combining for a match-turning 89-run ninth-wicket partnership. Bouckley fell agonisingly short of a well-deserved half-century, out for 49, with 12 runs to get but Doric (47 not out) and Jack Moss (one not out) finished the job. Acting captain with Simon Hill injured, Doric hit a six to clinch victory in style.
PRESTON A STEP CLOSER TO FINALS LOCK
Preston’s 63-run win over Hoppers Crossing has moved the Bullants six points clear in fourth place. In a jam-packed fight for the top-six it could prove critical and a home final is not out of the question. Darcy Hunter’s 71 saw the home team post 212 at Preston City Oval on day one. Marcus Murphy (3-23) and Mahesh Kodamullage (3-26) did the damage with the ball, as Hoppers Crossing was dismissed for 149. The Cats sit seventh, two points behind Altona and Werribee in fifth and sixth.
HOPE LEAVES YARRAVILLE ON THE OUTER
With three rounds remaining in the season, Yarraville would almost need to be perfect and hope results fall their way to make finals. On Saturday, Spotswood star Sam Hope claimed 4-45 to leave the Eagles’ finals prospects on the brink. Chasing 347, the visitors fell well short as the Eagles were rolled for 231 despite Harry McAleer’s half-century.
DAY ONE WRAP
WILLIAMSTOWN ALL OVER PLENTY VALLEY
The Seagulls will be looking at the possibility of an outright win against Plenty Valley after a dominant day one display. The hosts were rolled for just 98 as no batsmen passed 20 with Fraser Hay (4-19) and captain-coach Sean Sturrock (4-29) combining for eight wickets. Jack Craig made the most of his time in the middle finishing unbeaten on 68 as Willi reached 2-165 at stumps. An outright win could be pivotal for Williamstown who are 16 points outside the top-six.
CLARK POWERS SNOWDOGS
After a match-winning 73 last week, St Bernard’s opener Peter Clark continued his strong form on Saturday, scoring 84. Looking to keep it’s winning run going, the Snowdogs were 9-241 at stumps against VSDCA North-West top-six rival Altona at JK Grant Reserve. Clark’s 100-ball knock was well supported by Daniel O’Connell (35), Jevon Kett (29) and Nish Perera (44). Tom McConville was Altona’s leader with the ball, taking 3-31. With Kew fighting to avoid defeat against Taylors Lakes, second place is on the line for the third and fourth-placed teams.
SPOTSWOOD FLEXES ITS MUSCLE, AGAIN
The reigning premier is continuing to prove why they’re again the team to beat. On Saturday, Spotswood posted a monster 4-346 from its 80 overs as Declan O’Brien (94 not out), Lachlan McKenna (74), Jarrod Martignago (72 not out) and captain Jakson Knight (54) all hit half-centuries. It has left Yarraville with a massive run chase after the visitors used eight bowlers.
HUNTER, AHMED SET UP THRILLING FINISH
Darcy Hunter and Fawad Ahmed each produced spectacular performances to put Preston and Hoppers Crossing’s clash on a knife’s edge after day one at Preston City Oval. After a crucial knock last week, Hunter again impressed with the bat, posting 71 to help the Bullants reach 212 all out. Shakeel Ahmad (35), Vaib Deshpande (32) and Marcus Murphy (22) also made important contributions. Hunter was one of the few Preston bats to have any answer to former Australia spinner Ahmed. The competition’s leading wicket-taker snared 7-83 from 22.5 overs, taking his season tally to 32 scalps at an incredible average of just 7.22. In response, the Cats are 2-30 at stumps. Skipper Simon Lambert (10 not out) and Brett Smith (1 not out) are at the crease after Murphy (1-2) and Mahesh Kodamullage (1-2) made early breakthroughs.
MELTON IN A SPOT OF BOTHER
A lack of middle order runs will leave Melton 205 to defend on day two against Strathmore. After Mitch Stephens posted 62 off 167 at the top of the order, no other Lions batsman was able to capitalise on their respective starts. Luke Bassi was the pick of the bowlers for Strathmore with 3-28 as the home side chases their first win of the season.
DORIC TAKES BRAGGING RIGHTS
With so many former Essendon Premier Cricket players on the field, the Brunswick and Coburg clash is always a banter-filled day out. Wicks paceman Matt Doric certainly came out on top on Saturday with a starring performance, snaring 6-52 from his 22.3 overs. Doric got the better for Lions skipper and former teammate Aaron Shellie (14) among his haul as Coburg was dismissed for 169. Charlie Carter provided plenty of resistance for Coburg in an impressive 94-ball 51. Marcus Jackman took 3-30 for Brunswick. In reply, the Wicks were 1-9 after Shellie (1-8) made an early breakthrough, removing Mitch Horrocks (eight). Ben Rowles and Dan Houghton (both zero not out) will look to chase victory on day two on Saturday.
TAYLOR SAVES WERRIBEE’S BLUSHES
Nathan Taylor produced his best performance of the season with 86 off 118 to keep Werribee in the hunt against Ivanhoe. The Tigers were all out for 277 as Taylor produced an important innings to keep his side in the hunt. Edward Withington and Huzaifa Akram took four wickets apiece.
KEW WITH IT ALL TO DO
Second-placed Kew will need to defend 124 if it is to deny Taylors Lakes a stunning upset victory at Lionheart Reserve. The Lions are 2-28 in reply at stumps on day one of the VSDCA North-West two-day clash. Sam Pearce top-scored for Kew with a patient 35 from 81 balls on a lively pitch, while captain David Wildsmith continued his strong season with 24 from 67 balls. Jack M Carroll (18) was the only other teammate to reach double figures. George Pritchard was the main destroyer for Taylors Lakes, finishing with 4-26, while Aamir Raza pitched in with 3-19. Jack Carroll (2-10) gave Kew the perfect start to its defence with two early wickets, removing openers Luke Denny (nine) and Buddima Wijesundera (duck) before Steffan Roberts (two not out) and Nilan Fernando (13 not out) got the home team to stumps.
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