Check out all the highlights from the weekend’s VSDCA North-East action

WEEKEND WRAP: Plenty Valley wins one of the craziest wins of the summer, Will Lee snares a hat-trick and Althaf Nizam Shenuka De Silva bowl the house down.

Will Lee of Strathmore bowls during the VTCA match between Strathmore and Yarraville Club at Lebanon Reserve in Strathmore, Saturday, January 11, 2020. (Photo/Julian Smith)

Melbourne’s weather played havoc with the weekend’s VSDCA North-East matches.

The two-dayers across Saturday and Sunday, saw oppressive heat on Saturday before downpours on Sunday.

On the field, we also saw some amazing performances with bat and ball.

None moreso than Plenty Valley’s win over Strathmore that saw the Mores’ Will Lee take a hat-trick.

Check out all the highlights below.

LEE’S DAY OUT IN WICKET-FEST

Surely one of the craziest games of local cricket this summer. An amazing 33 wickets fell and just 267 runs were scored as Plenty Valley claimed a stunning seven-wicket reverse outright win over Strathmore on the weekend at Lebanon Reserve. Despite the Mores’ loss, Will Lee stole the show, taking an incredible 8-23, including a hat-trick. Lee’s devastating spell – he removed Karthik Singh, Alex Cole and Bats captain Simon Black consecutively – saw Plenty Valley lose 4-0 and earned Strathmore first innings points by one run. Strathmore had made 98 in the first innings before rolling the visitors for 97. However, it all went pear-shaped for the hosts from there, skittled for just 34. Kishor Mahato claimed 4-25 and Black chimed in with 3-7 to set up a 35-run chase for victory. Sunil Dhamala (15 not out) and Musaddiq Ali Hamza (7 not out) saw their team home, 3-38. Hamza’s 46 in Plenty Valley’s first innings was the highest score of the match and made up 47 per cent of the team’s total. There were nine ducks – three golden – and five scores of one.

NINE OF THE BEST

Preston spinner Althaf Nizam was at his bamboozling best on Saturday, taking 6-26 from 15 overs to skittle Box Hill. Nizam claimed five of the Mustangs top-six batters at Preston City Oval as the visitors were dismissed for just 57. The Bullants wrapped up an eight-wicket win in quick time and then pressed on looking for an outright win. The hosts declared at 7-171, taking a lead of 114. However, Box Hill held firm in its second dig, reaching 3-148 before stumps were called. Nizam took all three wickets, finishing with 3-50, to finish with nine scalps for the match. Tom Simmons ended up with a match-high 59.

Althaf Nizam in action for Preston. Picture: Steve Tanner

Mt Waverley bowler Patrick Schmitt. Picture: Valeriu Campan

HOWZAT!

Wickets tumbled at the off-spinning arm of Mount Waverley’s Shenuka De Silva in his side’s draw with Balwyn, collecting a mammoth 7-67 off 24 overs. After sending most of the Tigers’ top-order to the sheds, De Silva’s damage with the ball remained unrelenting thereafter – with his biggest scalp that of Balwyn captain and No.4 Adi Narayana on a hot streak of 69 runs on the way to knocking the Tigers over for 203. Rain shortened the second innings on Sunday, with Mt Waverley putting up 9-166 in reply.

SIMON SO CLOSE

Ivanhoe young gun Alvin Simon fell agonisingly short of a maiden VSDCA century on Saturday. Still eligible for under-17s, which he plays on Sunday’s, Simon scored a terrific 91 in the Saints’ draw with Bayswater at Bayswater Oval. He hit 11 boundaries in his 185-ball knock, combining with Brad Loveluck (87 not out) in a 155-run fifth-wicket partnership. The Saints finished 8-275 before restricting the hosts to 6-144 and share the points. Sachin Halangode top scored for Baysy with 54, while Simon also took 1-20 with the ball.

Donvale bowler Nick Ascenzo. Picture: Valeriu Campan

DONVALE BREAKS DUCK

The Lions are on the board for season 2024-25, etching their first win with a 155-run rout of Coburg. Led by a knock of 85 by Lega Siaka, who hit seven fours and three sixes off 83 balls, while skipper Jade Bardwell also tipped in 40 runs on the way to his side’s 276 total. English import Ben Shufflebotham led the charge with the ball, with the all-rounder taking 3-27 off 15 overs alongside Patrick Rowe with 3-31 off 10 as Coburg fell for 121.

EAGLES STRANDED – OR LUCKY?

Now winless after five rounds, Endeavour Hills will be left to ponder what could have been after the match with undefeated St Bernard’s ended in a draw owing to bad weather. With the Eagles holding on at 184 after opener Ajayveer Hundal scored 92 runs, the Bulldogs threatened for the win in reply, fast closing in with 8-171 at the time of the match’s end. Some will argue the Eagles were lucky to pinch a draw, others may debate they were desperately unlucky not to break their duck. You be the judge.

THE WRIGHT WAY

He’s “as close to a true all-rounder as you could get” according to teammates – and the weekend’s haul was further testament. Croydon champion Steve Wright took 5-36 off 15.5 overs, knocking Kew over for 178 to guide the Cockies to a 29-run win. He also put up a crucial 27 with the bat earlier in the piece. The decorated former club captain, with more than 200 First XI games under his belt, still knows how to turn a match.