DVCA 2020-21: Rosanna a threat for Barclay Shield premiership

After finishing ninth last season, Rosanna has rebounded to claim a DVCA Barclay Shield finals berth.

Rosanna has produced an impressive season in Barclay Shield. Picture: Steve Tanner

Rosanna will enter Diamond Valley Cricket Association finals as the fourth-ranked club and a genuine premiership threat.

The Barclay Shield outfit is 0-3 against rival finalists Banyule and Riverside, but it has knocked off minor premier North Eltham Wanderers twice this season.

Rosanna rebounded from a ninth-placed finish in 2019-20 to qualify and will face the promoted Bears in a cut-throat semi-final, while the Wanderers and Siders will battle for a spot in the grand final on March 20.

Rosanna finished the home-and-away rounds with an 8-6 win-loss record, beating the Wanderers and losing to Heidelberg in a mixed last weekend of the regular season.

“It gives us great belief knowing our best is certainly good enough,” skipper Sam Sheehan said.

“From our end, it’s the consistency that’s lacked this year, obviously proven again on the weekend.

“But we know if we’ve got momentum and we’re playing well, we can cut it with the best of them, so hopefully we can string a few together in the coming weeks.

“Being all one-day cricket this year presented a different challenge.

“To be honest, we didn’t know how we’d go. To finish fourth was a great effort.”

Sam Sheehan at the crease for Rosanna. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Sheehan has led from the front with 420 runs at 38.18 this summer, while former captain Nick Carlton has 366 runs and 25 wickets to his name and will be key to his side’s chances of advancing.

Aayat Khanna has been a surprise packet, collecting 22 wickets at 10.14 apiece, while the experienced Scott Shelton has claimed 12 wickets.

“Having started in the twos and not really being close to First XI, now he’s one of the first picked,” Sheehan said of Khanna.

Tim Sheehan and Scott Dunbar also bolstered the line-up midway through the season.

“We’ve got a number of guys who can perform on the day. It’s just about getting two or three of them (firing) on the same day,” Sam Sheehan said.

“It’s about playing well, and then winning will look after itself.”

Banyule prevailed by 21 runs when the pair met in Round 8 and has earned hosting rights for this weekend’s clash.

Star Bears all-rounder Brent O’Connor Snr crunched 88 before grabbing 3-19 in that match and has enjoyed another standout season, racking up 384 runs to go with 23 wickets.

“They’ve been a little bit inconsistent as well, but that’s the nature of one-day cricket. You can have your ups and downs,” Sam Sheehan said of Banyule.

“We’re expecting it to be a pretty close contest.”