Check out all the highlights from the weekend’s VSDCA North-East group action
There were runs and wickets galore as red-ball cricket returned to the VSDCA. It saw Baywater’s Michael Topp smash records and Preston pile on the runs.
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The first red-ball matches of the VSDCA season are underway.
After an action-packed day one of the first two-dayer of the season there were runs and wickets galore across the North-East group.
There was a record-breaking bowling performance.
While a pair of tons inspires one of the biggest team totals we’ll see this summer.
Check out all the highlights from around the grounds below.
RECORD-BREAKING HAUL
What a day out by Bayswater’s Michael Topp. The former Premier quick broke a club record collecting 9-65 off 21 overs on day one of his side’s bout with Coburg. He was twice on a hat-trick, castled six, caught two lbws and had one caught-behind – as well as six maidens – as the Burgers’ batting order fell for 214. The most crucial of Topp’s scalps came when he dismissed middle-order bat Cameron Harding for 76, while his streak also claimed three ducks (two of those golden). The signs were ominous the former Ringwood man might have been in for a big day when his handiwork finished top-order pair Kevin Noronha (6) and keeper Osian Catlin (duck) within three balls of each other in the sixth over, before the consecutive wickets of opener Sidney Thomson (26) and middle-order bat Noah Thain (golden duck) in the 10th. Bayswater put up 1-49 in reply by stumps, with the heavy-hitting Rishi Patel driving 41 runs before his dismissal at the hands of Burgers’ captain Hamza Ali.
BULLANTS DUO’S MAGIC
Shakeel Ahmed and Vaib Deshpande will forever have found memories of Gordon Barnard Reserve after putting Balwyn to the sword on Saturday. Preston captain Deshpande scored a brilliant unbeaten century, 121 from 125 balls. Opening bat Ahmad scored 106 from 142 deliveries. Both found the boundary 16 times, Ahmad hitting one six. After winning the toss and batting, Ahmad and opening partner Greg Maratos (73) got the visitors off to the perfect start with a 153-run stand. Ahmad and Deshpande were only together for 41 runs but the skipper and Swapnil Salvi (40) then put on a 96-run partnership. The runs continued to flow through to stumps as Deshpande and Syed Shah (51 not out) made it three hundred run partnerships for the day with a 114-run fourth-wicket stand. Preston going to stumps at 3-407. Balwyn face a gigantic task next week.
SKIPPER STANDS TALL
While Coburg struggles captain Hamza Ali has been a shining light. The Lions all-rounder was again the standout on Saturday, helping Coburg defy Michael Topp’s destructive spell to post 214 at Marie Wallace Oval. Ali top-scored with 78 from 135 balls, hitting eight boundaries. He was well supported by Cameron Harding (76 from 100). With the visitors struggling at 4-41, the pair put on a 115-run fifth wicket stand to turn the innings around. Ali was the last man out, falling to Rishi Patel. However, he got his revenge shortly after. With Patel cruising at 41 runs from 32 balls, Ali removed the Baywater dangerman, caught by Blake Karvalis. The hosts 1-49 at stumps.
LIONS PAIR TAME MUSTANGS
The combined bowling efforts of Donvale’s Patrick Rowe (4-34 off 12) and Ben Shufflebotham (4-37 off 21) almost single-handedly knocked Box Hill over as the hosts fell for 181. But the most important wicket of all came at the hands of UK import Shufflebotham, who ended opener Liam Dick’s day on 87 runs. It’s been some season with the ball so far for Rowe, whose wicket collection grew to 11 on Saturday, while it’s been a steady rise in recent weeks for boom recruit Shufflebotham, who took 2-49 then 3-47. Could his next spell be a five-for?
LOVELUCK RESCUES SAINTS
In the face of a Dan Houghton onslaught, Brad Loveluck anchored Ivanhoe’s innings. After winning the toss at Brunswick’s AG Gillon Oval and batting, the Saints were soon in trouble at 6-54. Loveluck’s unbeaten 73 from 139 balls steadied the ship. He and Troy Haynes (29) put on a critical 46-run partnership. The Saints’ tail wagged as Ed Withington (17) and Angus Drysdale (12) helped post a defendable 194. The last wicket stand between Loveluck and Drysdale adding 54. Houghton was an ever-present danger with the ball, finishing with 4-28, while Andrew Potter claimed 3-21.
DE SILVA STRIKES AGAIN
Last week Mt Waverley’s Shenuka De Silva turned out a 7-67 masterclass against Balwyn – and it was another formidable display on the weekend from the off-spinner, reeling in 5-40 off 19.4 overs in his side’s clash with Plenty Valley. His haul included the wicket of opener Karthik Singh (23) before sending captain Simon Black to the sheds with a duck and fellow middle-order bat Chenutha Wickramasinghe out for nine. De Silva’s season has now netted 15 wickets from five matches, and the weekend’s effort was almost matched by teammate Kurt Benjamin, who finished the day with 4-22 off 12 as Plenty Valley fell for 192. Mt Waverley put up 0-19 in reply by stumps.
BATS WITH WORK TO DO
Half-centuries from Sunil Dhamala and Lahiru Opatha gave Plenty Valley a strong foundation but the Bats failed to build on it at War Memorial Reserve on Saturday. Opener Dhamala scored 60 from 86 balls before Opatha added a quick-fire 50 from 54 deliveries to have the hosts 3-135 at one stage. However, the next seven wickets added just 57 runs, Plenty Valley all out 192 in 62.4 overs. Mt Waverley 0-19 at stumps.
KEW RETURNS TO FORM
The reigning premier hasn’t won since Round 1 and has struggled with the bat, posting 106 120 8-178 and 178 in its past four outings. However, led by captain David Wildsmith, Kew returned to form at Victoria Park on Saturday against Noble Park. Wildsmith top-scored with 62 from a patient 125 balls. Eddie Hogg added 53 from 127. The pair putting on a 103-run third-wicket stand. Late runs from Navnith Satyan (31 not out) saw the hosts post 8-238 from their 80 overs. Bulls skipper Janaka Liyanabadalge (3-73) and Holten Medallist Sahan Perera (3-75) were the pick of the bowlers.
SNOWDOGS TAKE DAY ONE LEAD
Conor Browne (3-15) and Nish Perera (3-38) skittled Strathmore for 113. St Bernard’s bats then got to work. The Snowdogs were in early trouble at 2-13 before Chris Spinella steadied the ship. The veteran bat finished the day unbeaten on 67 from 96 balls, hitting 15 boundaries. Perera (19) and Nathan Johnson (33 to go with his 2-16) providing crucial support. The Snowdogs will look to build their lead next week and potentially look for an outright win. Tom Stevenson was a standout on a difficult day for the visitors, top-scoring with the bat (30) and leading the way with the ball (2-27).
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