Rushabh Chavan spins East Coburg to an outright win, Sunshine Heights break through
An East Coburg recruit has shown his matchwinning ability with a dominant bowling display while a rival club managed to seal their first victory against an opponent who played one short. See our VTCA wrap.
VTCA games were cancelled across the competition due to wet weather.
But those who did take to the field were able to make the most of their opportunity.
Full wrap below.
WARRIORS MAKE MOST OF THEIR CHANCE
While games around them were cancelled at will, Point Cook took the opportunity to end Caroline Springs’ unbeaten start to the season. After posting 199 on day one, the Warriors rolled the Falcons despite star man Salman Afridi managing to post 72, one of three batters to reach double figures. Point Cook’s off-season recruit Suresh Thelge produced his best effort of the season so far with 5-27.
NORTH ON THE BOARD
A big weekend last week for Altona North proved critical in the end. After posting 218 all out at Crofts Reserve, the hosts then had Craigieburn on the ropes at 8-56. Rain threatened to steal the Division 1 premier’s first win of the Senior Division season but the players took the field and North finished the job. The Eagles added 18 runs to their overnight score before being dismissed for just 72 - six players out for a duck. Nathan Patrick finished with 6-19. Altona North went chasing an outright win but the visitors held on, reaching 6-130 to survive. Josh Rasu top-scored with 73 from only 62 balls. Patrick was again destructive with the ball, snaring a further 5-22, to finish with 11 wickets for the match.
OUTRIGHT FOR EAST COBURG
Left-arm spinner and off-season recruit Rushabh Chavan was the hero for Division 4 ladder leader East Coburg as they managed an outright win over Barkly St Uniting by an innings and 52 runs. The hosts posted 4-247 declared behind a first East Coburg century to Ben Beaumont in response to a first innings total of 63. Then, they managed to roll the visitors for 132 as Chavan took five of the last six wickets to hand his side a special win. He wasn’t even required to bowl in the first innings.
HEIGHTS ON THE BOARD
Sunshine Heights picked up its first win of the Division 4 season after overcoming Seabrook by 86 runs. While the scorecard says the home side took just nine wickets that’s because their opposition’s batting order only had 10 on the day. After hitting 46 off 56 on day one, Arun Joiya was the hero with the ball after taking 5-9 off 10.1 overs.
WARRIORS HISTORY FOR NOTHING
Sadly, Westmeadows didn’t a get a chance to defend its record-breaking 5-433 from last week as rain saw it’s clash with St Albans at Willowbrook Reserve called off without a ball bowled on Saturday. Skipper Donovan Pell (107), Tallan Wright (142 not out) and Stephen Mihelakos-James (100 off 42 balls) all scored centuries last week but the Warriors only walk away with three points.
BIG WIN FOR SAINTS
Airport West St Christophers claimed critical points as rivals were forced into rain-induced draws. The Saints smashed undefeated ladder-leader Deer Park on day one of the Round 6 clash, claiming an eight-wicket first-innings victory. After skittling the Lions for 120, Airport West reached 8-168 and could have chased an outright win but the weather intervened. Having secured the six points, Airport West moves up to fourth on the Senior Division ladder and just six points off Deer Park on top.
T20 WRAP
The T20 action returned to the VTCA on Tuesday night.
There were explosive performances with bat and ball.
There were several guest appearances, including an Ireland Under-19s young gun, Premier Cricket stars and a West Indian debutant.
Here’s a wrap of the action, plus more from the weekend below.
NEW DEER PARK MAN THE DIFFERENCE
Deer Park has introduced a new face into its line-up in recent weeks, former West Indian first class cricketer Jair McAllister. On Tuesday, he was the matchwinner against Sunshine United as his side got across the line by two wickets. McAllister hit the winning runs and finished unbeaten on 11 as the Lions won by two wickets. He also took two wickets alongside Fawad Ahmed’s four as United posted 8-114. Upul Bandara top scored in the run chase with 38.
HEATER THE DIFFERENCE
Footscray United recruit Isaac Heater was the difference for his side as they pulled off a surprise one-run win over Westmeadows. Heater top scored with 17, despite batting at 10, and it proved to be the difference in a low scoring affair as the Bulldogs were rolled for just 63. But they managed to defend the total with Heather taking 5-12 off his four overs. Frank Hoang was the hero at the end of the Warriors’ innings though when he removed Billy Kosteas for 8. It’s a remarkable turnaround after Westmeadows made over 400 on the weekend.
HE’S ON FIRE AGAIN
Former Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunarathna was in dominant form, scoring an unbeaten 96, as Keilor recorded a big 78-run win over Sunbury. Karunarathna led his side to 6-176 before a total team bowling effort saw the visitors restricted to 9-98. Eight different bowlers were used and each took a wicket. Archie Shore (2-7) was the only multiple wicket taker.
IRISH YOUNG GUNS CAN’T LIFT EAST
Ireland Under-19s all-rounder Sebastian Dijkstra made a guest appearances for East Keilor in Tuesday night’s VTCA T20 clash against Glenroy at Sewell Reserve. He joined fellow Irishman Cillian McDonnell but, despite the pair starring, they couldn’t stop East falling 18 runs short of victory. Batting first, Glenroy posted 6-136, as Basant Khatri top-scored with 28. Left-arm offie McDonnell claimed 3-28. Dijkstra, who is playing Subbies for Brighton, hit 45 from 40 deliveries at the top of the order to give East Keilor a strong start, reaching 3-94 before collapsing. The visitors lost 7-26. Ragulraj Devarasa picked up 4-15 for Glenroy, including the critical scalp of Dijkstra.
SUPER OVER DRAMA
Shafraz Mohamed was the star as Point Cook claimed a drama-filled T20 against Sunshine Heights. The two teams finished tied on 133 after their 20 overs and went to the sudden-death super over. Point Cook looked in strife after being held to just eight runs. However, Mohamed stepped up with the ball to deliver a match-winning effort – restricting Sunshine Heights to 2-1. Heights batted first at Saltwater Reserve, Riyan Bhasin top-scoring with 61 from 58 balls. Mohamed dominated with the ball, snaring 4-18. Senior Division premiership winner Neeten Chouhan top-scored in Point Cook’s chase, hitting 37 runs. The Warriors needed seven runs from the final over to win but tied the match on the final ball. Pavan Bade made five not out and Suresh Thelge was two not out against Big Bash star Peter Hatzoglou in Point Cook’s super over. Mohamed then snatched victory with a superb death performance, dismissing both Arun Joiya and Alex Hatzoglou for ducks and conceding just one run.
EAST COBURG’S RECORD NIGHT
There was a fireworks display at Brearley Reserve on Tuesday night, provided by Sachintha Silva and Joseph Conlin. The East Coburg bats put on a show of power-hitting against Pascoe Vale Hadfield. Silva smashed 84 from just 41 deliveries, belting seven boundaries and six sixes. Conlin cracked six boundaries and five sixes in his 35-ball 70. The pair put on a 94-run third wicket stand and helped East post a mammoth 8-211 from its 20 overs. Pascoe Vale Hadfield had no reply, held to 8-97. Special guest, Greenvale paceman Musa Hussain claimed 2-22, while Jarrod Eccles snared 2-9. The 114-run victory one of the biggest seen in VTCA T20s.
WEEKEND WRAP
A warm, sunny Saturday and the start of a two-day fixtures.
It meant runs galore across the VTCA, although not for everyone.
There were centuries up and down the six divisions, while there were plenty of top wicket-takers too.
However, no on matched the run-scoring feats of Westmeadows.
Check out all the highlights from across the association below.
A DAY TO REMEMBER FOR WESTMEADOWS
Just about everything went right for Westmeadows on day one against St Albans. The Warriors plundered 5-433 at Willowbrook Reserve, a club record score, as three players scored centuries. Tallan Wright and Stephen Mihelakos-James both hit their first centuries for the club while captain-coach Donovan Pell hit his fifth. Wright had the highest score of the day with 142 not out off 156. Mihelakos-James scored the fastest century in Westmeadows history with his 100 off 41. Pell finished 107 from 144 deliveries. Unfortunately for St Albans bowler Lihan Dulshan, he also brought up triple figures, finishing with the horror figures of 0-111 from 19 overs.
LIONS IN UNFAMILIAR POSITION
Airport West St Christophers has Deer Park on the ropes after a dominant day in their clash at Etzel Reserve. It’s a very unfamiliar position for the two-time defending premier, which have been dominant in the opening rounds of the season. After winning the toss and batting, Deer Park was skittled for just 120 in less than 30 overs. After three hundreds in a row, Aaron Shellie was dismissed for just two and only three batters reached double figures. Skipper Aaron Ayre played a lone hand with a top-score of 34. Nick Brazil was destructive with the ball, picking up 4-35, including the wickets of Daniel Sartori and Angelo Emmanuel. Jack Morley finished with 3-30, including Ayre caught-and-bowled. The Saints then went to work with the bat. Ramindu Nikeshala top-scored with 46, while Ben Walkden added 38 and Sachin Wellage 29 as the home team reached 8-168 at stumps, a first innings lead of 48. Ayre backed up his batting with a remarkable 3-5 from five overs with the ball.
NORTH EYEING FIRST WIN
Altona North is just a couple of wickets away from its first win in Senior Division – praying rain doesn’t strike next week. The reigning Division 1 premier produced its strongest performance to date against Craigieburn at Crofts Reserve on Saturday. The Rainone brothers were on fire, captain Luke top-scoring with 83 and Nick adding 67, combining for a 71-run fourth-wicket partnership. The hosts were dismissed for 218 and continued that dominance with the ball. Nathan Patrick ripped through the Craigieburn batting order, taking 6-14, in a destructive spell. Five of Patrick’s victims were out for a duck. The Eagles in massive trouble at 8-56 at stumps with captain Samuel Laffan unbeaten on 29.
LANKAN GREAT MEETS CLUBBERS ACE
While he is yet to score a century, former Sri Lanka Test captain Dimuth Karunarathna had been dominant for Keilor this season, racking up three half-centuries in four outings. However, he scored just 12 on Saturday as Yarraville Club’s former Ryder Medallist Trent Lawford got the better of him. Instead it was left to Harry Warwick (55), Robert Clements (48 not out) and Chetan Arjun (39) to do the bulk of the run-scoring. The Blues made 215 all out.
NO STOPPING PORTER
Sunshine United’s English import Toby Porter was arguably in the form of his life against Oak Park St Francis de Sales with a devastating display of bowling. He claimed figures of 8-39 as his side rolled the visitors for 171 with Blake McKinnon’s 75 off 136 critical in stretching the total out.
WALKER A LEADING RECRUIT
Joe Walker is proving to be one of the astute pick ups of the off-season after yet another half-century. He hit his fourth of the campaign for Seddon on day one against Druids. His 88-run stand was his best yet as his side posted 250.
DE SILVA AND DE SILVA IMPRESS
They might be on opposite sides but Harsha De Silva and Shehan De Silva were superb on Saturday as West Coburg St Andrews hosted Tullamarine at Morris Reserve. West’s Harsha De Silva scored his first century since December 2024, compiling an even 100 from 161 deliveries – smashing 20 boundaries. He combined with Redbacks skipper Kyle Adams (72) for a 112-run sixth-wicket partnership to help the home team make 314 all out. Shehan De Silva was the chief destroyer for Tullamarine, finishing with 4-74 from 23 overs, including the scalp of his namesake. Danny Law jagged 3-58.
SHARKS TAKE THE POINTS
Point Cook Centrals will be aiming for an outright win against Melton South on day two. The Sharks secured first innings points after holding a 42-run lead at stumps. The Royals were all out for 85 after the Sharks’ off-season recruit Max Rouvray tore through the top order with 5-30. PCC were 6-127 at stumps.
CAN EAST SECURE FIRST WIN?
The pressure will be on East Keilor’s bowlers to deliver a first win of the season next weekend.They’ll look to defend 269 on day two against Greenvale Kangaroos after several players posted scores in the 40s to give their side a chance.
BARASSI ON FIRE
Pascoe Vale Central are on the cusp of first innings points against Bellbridge on day one of their clash at Mossfiel Reserve. If Central does get the points it will have Daniel Barassi largely to thank. The paceman finished with impressive figures of 7-35 from 13 overs on Saturday, wreaking Bellbridge’s innings. With the hosts dismissed for 173, Anthony Fawcus set about quickly chasing it down, smashing 56 from 50 deliveries – including 11 boundaries and a six. Arshan De Silva (36 not out) and Brad Fawcus (5 not out) will look to continue the strong start next week.
SHARP, PHILLIPSON, BEAUMONT DESTROYING UNITING
It’s a three-man show as East Coburg takes Barkly Street Uniting to the cleaners at Brearley Reserve. United won the toss and decided to bat but were skittled for just 63. Incredibly, East used just two bowlers. Will Sharp claimed 5-16 from 13 overs and Archie Phillipson snared 4-38 from 13.1. The visitors are now eyeing an outright victory after Ben Beaumont scored a blazing century, blasting 111 from just 116 balls – 16 fours and four sixes. Phillipson backed up his bowling with a quick-fire 77 runs from 64 deliveries in a superb all-round performance. East Coburg are 4-247 at stumps.
BINDROO A ONE-MAN SHOW
Sunshine Heights was all out 218 against Seabrook on Saturday. A stunning 113 of those runs came from one man – Siddhant Bindroo. Bindroo was on fire at Ainsworth Reserve, smashing 10 boundaries and five sixes in his 117-ball stay in the middle. He got some help from Arun Joiya (46) but very little from the rest of the team. Daniel Kilfoy was the leading bowler for Seabrook with 4-43. In reply, the visitors slumped to 2-24 at stumps.
SIMPSON SALUTES, SAHA STIFF
Luke Simpson scored a brilliant century as Werribee Centrals put itself in the box seat against Sunshine YCW at Galvin Park on Saturday. Simpson scored 104 from 198 balls before falling to Matt Williams. Williams was the pick of Sunshine’s attack and finished with 6-79 in a fighting performance. However, the hard-luck story of the day was Shuvro Saha. The Centrals No.9 isn’t known for his run-scoring – he had 53 all last year at Rivergum and just four so far this season. However, he made a superb 98 from 126 balls, falling two runs shy of his maiden ton when he was bowled by Williams. Centrals finished 268 all out.
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