Check out all the weekend’s highlights from VTCA Senior Division and Division 1
There were plenty of big performances on the weekend as the VTCA season nears its crescendo. Check out all the highlights from a critical round here.
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The VTCA season is nearing its crescendo.
Senior Division and Division 1 each played a Round 10 two-dayer double-header on the weekend with some astounding results and performances.
There were big wins, near misses and runs and wickets aplenty.
With just two rounds remaining in the top two flights, the finals race is also heating up with several teams still in contention.
Check out all the highlights below.
CLUBBERS’ STATEMENT WIN
It’s the pointy end of the VTCA Senior Division season and reigning premier Yarraville Club flexed its considerable muscle on the weekend. Third-placed Clubbers knocked off fourth-placed Aberfeldie with a commanding 178-run victory at Clifton Park. Halwathurage Jayasinghe jumped to the top of the competition’s run-scoring charts with a brilliant century, 122 from 181 balls. The run-machine now has 457 runs on the year at an average of 65.29. Nandhalal Sangaran scored a patient 92 from 153 balls and is fourth with 395 runs total. The pair put on a 170-run fourth-wicket partnership to help Yarraville Club post 329 all out. Spinners Mitch Johnstone (4-40) and Jackson Martin (4-20) the ran through Abers, dismissed for 151. Chathura Deshapriya’s 5-74 and Anthony Barton’s 60 were in vain.
EVITTS PUTS KEILOR ON THE CUSP
A maiden century from Reeve Evitts inspired Keilor’s 24-run win over Craigieburn at Joe Brown Reserve. The Blues bat, smashed 123 from 187 balls, hitting 18 boundaries and a six, to help his team post 305 all out. Evitts was well supported by Luke Delbridge’s 52 with the pair putting on 78 for the fifth wicket. Kevin Spaull (89) and Adam Davies (59) had the Eagles right in the hunt at 1-143 before Davies departed and Spaull followed soon after at 3-168 to kill any chance of a successful chase. Malith Cooray jagged 5-50 and Paxino Medallist Matthew Gaskett finished with 3-79 to secure the win. Keilor is now fifth on the VTCA Senior Division ladder, just 0.034 behind Aberfeldie in the race for a semi-final spot.
WARRIORS MARCH INTO FINALS FIGHT
Pathum De Mel’s season-best bowling performance has helped Westmeadows rocket into semi-final contention. The Warriors paceman claimed 7-38 in an five-wicket win over fellow top-four aspirant St Albans at Willowbrook Reserve. De Mel routed the Saints for 121 with Lihan Dulshan providing the most resistance, scoring 35. Geeth Alwis then led the way with the bat in the chase, scoring 57, as Westmeadows finished the match 9-170. St Albans skipper Shafraz Mohamed (4-37) and Akila Isanka (4-41) were the best with the ball. The Warriors sit seventh but are level on points with fourth-placed Aberfeldie in a four-way tie. Keilor and St Albans are also in the mix with two rounds remaining.
FOUR HALF-CENTURIES AND A SIX-FA
No, it’s not a sequel to the 1990s Hugh Grant movie, it was Druids’ sensational performance on the weekend. Charith Perera (58), Jarrod Parsons (60), Charith Mendis (50) and Asela Aluthge (57 not out) all raised the bat on Saturday. Mendis then added a remarkable 6-74 from 28 overs on Sunday to secure a 55-run win over Sunshine United at Selwyn Park. The four half-centuries saw Druids post 9-258 before the Tigers were dismissed for 203. Mendis is now ranked eighth for runs in the competition with 338 at an average of 37.56, while Parsons is second for wickets with 24 after taking 3-50.
SMITH SHOW CAN’T SAVE NORTH
Connor Smith put in one of the best all-round performances of the season but it wasn’t enough for Altona North on the weekend. Smith top-scored with the bat, hitting 69 from 94 balls – including nine boundaries and a pair of sixes – before snaring 4-81 from 29 overs. However, it wasn’t enough as premiership contender Sunshine snatched a nail-biting one-wicket victory at Dempster Park. Charith Fernando and Kaushal Lokuarachchi both took 3-23 for the Crows, while Charitha Jayampathi (33) and Ramesh Lakshitha (30) were the best with the bat. The loss ends any hope of Altona North playing finals, falling 18 points behind fourth-placed PEGS, while Sunshine sit second on the VTCA Division 1 ladder, level on points with ladder-leader Airport West St Christophers.
HAIDER TON, EAGLES SURVIVE SCARE
A Qundeel Haider century rescued VTCA Division 1 ladder-leader Airport West St Christophers from an upset loss to last-placed West Coburg St Andrews on the weekend. The Eagles snatched a three-wicket win at Morris Reserve, chasing down the Redbacks’ 198 in a nervy finish. Haider finished unbeaten on 111 from 162 balls and hit 11 boundaries. Ben Sims provided the most support, scoring 34. Earlier, Joe Gill took 4-41 to keep the Eagles in the contest. Jack Potticary top-scored for West Coburg with a well-made 92 from 99 balls, smashing 10 boundaries and four sixes, but it wasn’t enough.
HARDING DRIVES SAINTS
A Ben Harding century kept St Francis de Sales in touch with the VTCA Division 1 top-four. The Saints opener finished unbeaten on 100 exactly from 150 balls to inspire a six-wicket win over Doutta Stars at Fawkner Reserve. Harding hit 14 boundaries and a six in his breakthrough knock, beating his previous high-score of the season of 36. Aaron Maynard (44) and Jared Keenan (36 not out) helped St Francis reach 4-215, chasing down Doutta’s 213 all out. Blake McKinnon starred with the ball for the Saints, claiming 5-51. Stars gun Patrick Willach fell agonisingly short of a century, out for 93 from 163 balls.
RELEGATION FIGHT TO FINALS FIGHT FOR PEGS
Last season, PEGS survived relegation from VTCA Division 1 by the skin of its teeth. This season, the club is on the hunt for a semi-final berth in a remarkable turnaround. A heart-stopping two-run win over top-four rival Haig Fawkner at Grammar Sports Fields on the weekend has the club in fourth place, level with Haig, and two points ahead of St Francis de Sales. Pishan Hewage starred in the win, top-scoring with 70 not out, in PEGS’s 146. Shakeem Clarke then did the damage with the ball, taking 5-59, as the hosts held on by the slenderest of margins. Haig looked done at 9-119 before a last-wicket partnership between Salman Afridi (51 not out) and Chris Gioupas (one) almost stole the win. Afridi top-scored and took 2-28, while Sithum Peiris was the best with the ball snaring 3-10.
SARTORI MASTERCLASS RESCUES LIONS
At 3-3, Deer Park’s undefeated record looked finished in the top-of-the-table clash with Sydenham-Hillside. Enter Daniel Sartori, the former Premier Cricket run-machine smashed a dominant 168 from 216 balls on Saturday to rescue the Lions. Keon Harding added a critical 78, the pair putting on a 173-run seventh-wicket partnership, to propel the VTCA Senior Division ladder-leader to a mammoth 323 all out. Fawad Malook then ripped through the Storm on Sunday, snaring 6-44 from 23.4 overs, to help secure a commanding 115-run victory at Hillside Reserve.
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