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

History was made as the finals race took plenty of twists and turns in the latest Subbies north-west action. Here’s what you need to know.

Fawad Ahmed (right) celebrates a wicket for Hoppers Crossing. Picture: Andy Brownbill

The second last round of the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association north-west group saw plenty of exciting results.

Here’s what you need to know.

PEARCE TON TAKES KEW TO THE TOP

Welsh import Sam Pearce’s dominant season continued on Saturday, hitting his maiden Subbies century. Pearce finished 100 not out from 82 balls, hitting nine boundaries and two sixes, in the Blues’ seven-wicket win over Plenty Valley. Chasing the Bats’ 65 all out, Kew stumbled early but Jack Stewart (29) and Pearce steadied the ship and secured the six points. Jack Carroll added 42 as Pearce went on to bring up triple figures for the first time and lead Kew to 6-216 at Victoria Park. The knock takes Pearce to 489 runs for the season at an average of 44.45, ranked ninth in the competition. He’s also fourth on the wicket-taker charts with 33 wickets putting him in the frame for Team of the Year honours. Meanwhile, the victory takes Kew to the top of the VSDCA North-West ladder after Spotswood slipped up against Werribee.

DON’T DISCOUNT THE TIGERS

Werribee has sent a timely reminder of its power to the rest of the competition with a three-wicket win over Spotswood. Led by unbeaten knocks from Tim O’Brien (28 off 59) and Michael Kelly (33 off 62), the Tigers were able to get across the line at Chirnside Park. Despite 6-66 from Sandeep Mandalika, Spotswood slipped to third place on the ladder.

Jevon Kett of St Bernard’s. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

SNOWDOGS PUT DENT IN ANTS HOPES

Starting day two at 0-93 with openers Tristan Kassis (63 not out) and Rory Collins (24 not out) at the crease, St Bernard’s didn’t miss out on a day of batting. Collins was the first man out for 48, while Kassis fell agonisingly short of a century, out for 95. The runs continued to flow as Jevon Kett (43), Chris Spinella (49), Connor McGuire (65 not out) and James Davey (27 not out) cashed in against a tiring Preston attack as the home side racked up 6-358. Shakeel Ahmed was the Bullants’ best with 3-65. The result sees St Bernard’s move up to second on the VSDCA North-West ladder, while Preston falls out of the top-six. The Bullants will need a win over Melton in the final-round one-dayer and an Altona loss to Williamstown to play finals.

ALTONA LEADS THE RACE

Altona is in the box seat to play finals after a six-wicket win over western rivals Melton. The A’s cruised to victory as Connor Brown (46 off 166) and Ben Davies (31 off 110) showed great patience to lead their side across the line. Heading into their final game against Williamstown, Altona is one game clear of seventh-place Preston.

WILLIAMSTOWN, BRUNSWICK FINALS HOPES END

Despite a three-wicket win, Williamstown’s finals hopes are over, as are defeated Brunswick’s. A super patient century from Matt Dervan - 102 from 222 balls - secured victory for the Seagulls at Williamstown Cricket Ground. It cancelled out Jackson Cooper’s 113 for the Wicks. The result sees Willy leap-frog Brunswick on the VSDCA North-West ladder to eighth but it is eight points behind Altona in sixth with one one-dayer remaining. The Wicks, meanwhile, are another point behind in ninth. Dervan now sits fifth on the competition leading run-scorer charts with 554 at 61.56, while Seagulls skipper Sean Sturrock is second on the wicket-taking table with 38 poles.

ONE MORE HUGE KNOCK FOR HAHNEL

Josh Hahnel has enjoyed quite the season for Yarraville. He produced another big performance at the weekend with an unbeaten 120 off 237 to lead his side to victory against Strathmore by six wickets. Yarraville could cause some headaches in the final round if it is able to knock off St Bernard’s.

IVANHOE HOLDS FIRM

Skittled for just 79 last week before seeing Coburg rack up 7-208 declared, Ivanhoe showed far more fight on Saturday. The Saints were facing an outright defeat when they were put back in but defied the surging Lions. The club’s youngsters were given an opportunity at the top of the order and Finn Cleary top-scored with 26, while opening partner Ben Bretel added 23. Impressive Irish import Mark Donegan finished unbeaten on 19 as the visitors reached stumps at 4-121 from 56 overs. Aaron Ayre (2-32) and Will Archer (2-15) both picked up two wickets.

HISTORIC DAY FOR HOPPERS

Hoppers Crossing was able to secure an outright win over Taylors Lakes after Sanka Abeyruwan (6-35) and Fawad Ahmed (3-39) combined for nine wickets to have Taylors Lakes all out for 90 in their second dig. It was a special day for the Cats as Ahmed brought up his 50th wicket of the season, the second time he has done it in club colours. Meanwhile Simon Labert moved to 659 runs for the season, the most by a First XI player at Hoppers. Lambert passed Ronald Taylor’s previous record of 654.

DAY ONE REVIEW

It’s the penultimate round of the VSDCA North-West season.

With teams jockeying for finals positions there’s plenty at stake in every game.

There were big centuries and bags of wickets, while a couple of teams have already wrapped up first innings points.

Check out all the highlights from the weekend here.

Fawad Ahmed in action for Hoppers Crossing. Picture: Andy Brownbill

AHMED CLOSES IN ON 50

Fawed Ahmed’s brilliant campaign almost has another major milestone as he closes in on 50 wickets for the season. As Hoppers Crossing secured first innings points against Taylors Lakes, Ahmed finished with 6-29 to take his season tally to 47 scalps as the Lions were all out for 73. Hoppers captain-coach Simon Lambert hit 68 off 73 to lead the Cats to 152 before they were all out. An outright win would be huge for the Cats’ finals hopes as they sit just outside the six.

CARROLL IN TEAM OF THE YEAR CONVO?

While Fawad Ahmed is a lock for the VSDCA Team of the Year, don’t discount young Kew spinner Jack Carroll. The left-armer is quietly enjoying a breakout season. Another 4-8 on Saturday as the Blues dismantled Plenty Valley takes him to 34 wickets and back above teammate Sam Pearce to third in the competition. It’s the fifth time Carroll has claimed four or more scalps. There were some impressive figures for Kew as Jack M Carroll took 1-0, Pearce got 1-2 and Michael Letson snared 2-10 as the Bats were skittled for just 65 at Victoria Park. Openers Dilawar Ali (20) and Javid Bolim (13) scored almost half the total.

Jack Carroll in action for Kew.

WERRIBEE’S HUGE REMINDER

Werribee sits fourth on the ladder and have been up and down all season but you can’t discount the Subbies powerhouse from the premiership race. They had ladder-leader Spotswood all out for 192 led by Michael Kelly’s six-wicket haul. And it could have been much worse if Mac Short (52 runs) and Dan Schuppan (37) didn’t add some runs in the lower order. Adam Alifraco and Matt Burton saw the Tigers through to stumps with 0-13 off 12 overs.

DAVIS GETTING CLOSER TO TOP DOG

A couple of weeks ago we told you Luke Davis was closing in on two St Bernard’s all-time records. After a superb 6-43 on Saturday, here’s the update. Davis has 487 total wickets for the Snowdogs, chasing down his brother Chris’ overall record of 522. Meanwhile, he’s within touching distance of Craig Osborne’s First XI mark of 391 wickets, moving to 378. After 15 wickets in his last four matches, a big finish to the season could see him break at least one of those. Davis’ performance ensured Preston were bowled out for 201, despite the best efforts of Greg and Dennis Maratos – 52 and 40 respectively. Tristan Kassis (63 not out) and Rory Collins (24 not out) then took St Bernard’s to 0-93 at stumps.

Callum Hands rolls the arm over for Altona. Picture: Andy Brownbill

PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER FOR CALLUM

As Altona moved closer to securing a finals place, First XI regular Callum Hands put together a career performance with the ball. He finished with his best ever figures of 6-14 from 14 overs to help his side roll Melton for just 114 on day one. Altona is now in pole position to take full points after reaching 0-20 at stumps.

COOPER TON LIFTS WICKS

It’s do or die at Williamstown Cricket Ground. Williamstown and Brunswick are battling to keep their finals hopes alive and a Jackson Cooper century has the Wicks on top after day one. Cooper hit 113 from 145 balls, including 19 boundaries and a six, to propel the visitors to 238 all out. Lewis Bouckley continued his strong form with 40 not out. The ton takes Cooper to 453 runs for the season. For the Seagulls, skipper Sean Sturrock continued his excellent season, taking 5-75, and must surely be in Team of the Year contention. The paceman has 38 wickets on the year, second most in the North-West.

NOBLE REDISCOVERS BEST BUT MORES EYE BACK-TO-BACK

Jack Noble was back at his brilliant best for Yarraville on Saturday with a five-wicket haul, his first of the season, against Strathmore. After just taking two wickets in his last five outings, Noble finished with 5-67. However, the Mores are still well placed to claim a second straight win after posting 218 all out. Matt West top-scored with 59, while Luke Bassi (51) and captain Omar Phillips (47) also impressed. The hero in last week’s drought-breaking win, Cam Pennyfeather was out for a four-ball duck. The Eagles reached 0-24 before stumps with skipper and league-leading run-scorer Josh Hahnel (14no) and Jack Brown (9no) at the crease.

SHELLIE STEAMROLLS SAINTS

On Thursday, Aaron Shellie could hardly walk after injuring his back. On Saturday, the Coburg captain single-handedly put Ivanhoe to the sword with one of the VSDCA North-West season’s most dominant individual performances. After winning the toss and bowling on a “green” wicket, Shellie sliced through the Saints’ batting order, taking 7-18 from 16 overs – bowling 10 maidens. Chasing just 79 for first innings points, he then crushed a blistering 99 from 97 balls – hitting eight boundaries and four sixes.