Heshan Umendra leads VTCA weekend action with stunning catch
A self-described “terrible” cricket watcher has ended his stint on the sidelines and made a stunning return some players wouldn’t even achieve in their career.
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Aaron Maynard is back for Oak Park St Francis and he’s already making a big impact.
In back-to-back Victorian Turf Cricket Association games, the experienced bat has hit centuries.
It started with 114 in the weekend’s two-day clash with Footscray United before powering his way to 100 of 60 balls in Tuesday’s night T20 against Greenvale Kangaroos.
Maynard had elected to take time away but coach Sean Warren couldn’t be happier to have him back.
“He said he was a terrible watcher and was missing the game and it all happened from there,” Warren said.
“It’s been perfect timing to get him back just before the Christmas break. He had to really work for the first century on the weekend, he was really patient with his first 50. Then he went from 50 to 100 in about 30 balls.
“It’s huge for us to have him back.”
Warren said the club had used its T20 fixtures to some of its younger players including Baxter Payne and Gabriel Destito who took three wickets between them on Tuesday.
“They’re both young leg spinners who are showing their potential,” he said.
“They’ve played some games in the Second XI and this is an opportunity which is going to be good for them in the long run.”
Warren’s side will receive another boost heading into this weekend with Tim Hughes set to play his game of the season.
They currently sit in fourth place ahead of the clash with the winless Druids.
“We can put ourselves in a good position if we can pick up a win,” Warren said.
“We’ve got a tougher draw after Christmas, based on where the teams are on the ladder at the moment, so picking up wins is very important.”
CATCH OF THE SEASON?
Sunshine YCW are flying in Division 4 of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association and Heshan Umendra’s stunning catch on the weekend was an example of it.
Umendra took one of the catches of the season, diving to his left in the slips from the bowling of captain Lachlan Lewin in YCW’s big win over Footscray Angliss on the weekend.
His catch sparked wild celebrations with teammates sprinting after him as he saluted the crowd.
“He just took off,” Lewin said.
“Heshan is quite a good fielder for us in general. His first catch was pretty sharp as well and he saved a few runs for us throughout the day.
“It was a pretty good game for him overall after he scored 60 with the bat. The club had a function on so there was quite a good crowd. He went in their direction and celebrated.”
YCW remains unbeaten after six rounds with three wins and three no results with the weekend’s win one of the most impressive yet.
Lewin said it had always been his side’s intention to hit the ground running after earning promotion last season.
“Footscray Angliss is a team we rate very highly,” he said.
“It’s been very important for us to stack up wins before the Christmas break. We’re quite a young side to be 3-0 isn’t probably what we were expecting.
“We’re very happy with the depth at the club at the moment but we know there’s still a lot of work for us to do.”
WALKDEN, BRETT BRING DOWN LIONS
A stunning virtuoso performance from Ben Walkden saw promotion-winners Airport West St Christophers upset reigning Senior Division premier Deer Park at John McLeod Reserve on the weekend, the Lions’ first loss of the season. UK import Walkden was denied a maiden century, falling for 96 to spin king Fawad Ahmed. He scored just six boundaries in his patient 244-ball knock. However, Joel Brett had no such trouble, clubbing a stunning 115 from just 129 deliveries. He smashed 11 fours and four sixes. The pair put on a matchwinning 184-run fourth-wicket partnership to help the visitors post 272 all out. Walkden then ripped through the Deer Park batting order, snaring 5-31 from 14 overs to complete a man-of-the-match performance. The Lions were dismissed for 192 in just 52 overs, Daniel Sartori top-scored with 54. Dean Russ was the hosts’ best with the ball, claiming 5-22 from 13.2.
LAWFORD SENDS REMINDER
Yarraville Club secured a critical 140-run win over VTCA Senior Division premiership rival Sydenham-Hillside over the weekend on the back of large performances from three of its biggest stars. Skipper Mitch Johnstone, Nandhalal Sangaran and Trent Lawford all produced dominant performance but arguably none more than Lawford. The former Ryder Medallist fell agonisingly short of a deserved century, making 95 from 101 balls before ripping through the Storm’s top-order and finishing with 3-44. Nandhalal scored an imperious 132 from 186 balls, leading the Clubbers to 9-362. Michael Hill added 56. Meanwhile, Johnstone was the main destroyer with the ball, claiming 5-52 as Sydenham-Hillside was dismissed for 222. Ishan Peiris (64) and Sanka Abeyruwan (3-66) were the Storm’s best.
BLATERHWICK THE WREAKER
A 10-wicket haul from Daniel Blatherwick almost secured St Albans an outright win over Aberfeldie on the weekend. The Saints came up just four wickets short of maximum points as Abers held on in their second innings at Clifton Park. Sent in on Saturday, St Albans proceeded to rack up 261 as James Meggitt (69) and John Moon (45) led the way. Blatherwick then set about dismantling the hosts batting. A destructive 6-23 saw Abers skittled for just 111, securing first innings point by 150 runs. Sent back in, Aberfeldie was again in deep trouble, falling to 3-7, then 6-49 but Vihanga Abepitiya’s unbeaten 51 saved the day. The all-rounder also took 6-57 to be the lone bright spot for the home team. Blatherwick finished with 4-15 in the second innings to secure a 10-wicket match haul.
SEDDON GETS ITS BREAKTHROUGH
Seddon picked up its first win of the Division 1 season on the back of a dominant display against the winless Druids. Skipper Liam Braithwaite posted 52 off 79 to lead Seddon to 201 in its innings before the bowling attack went to work. Druids were rolled for just 58 as debutant Weligamage Bhanuka claimed 4-3 in his overs. Arran Brown and Aman Khan picked up three wickets apiece. Bhanuka claimed four of the five wickets Druids lost in their second dig before play came to a close.
KEILOR ON THE BOARD
Keilor secured its first win of the Senior Division season, a thrilling 11-run win over fellow struggler Craigieburn at DS Aitken Reserve. Sent in on Saturday, the Blues posted 9-212 from their 80 overs. Malith Cooray top-scored with a patient 69 from 164 balls, while Robert Clements made 56, the pair putting on an important 78-run partnership. James Portou was the Eagles’ best with the ball, snaring 3-27. In reply, Craigieburn made a solid start but struggled to form partnerships. No. 8 Jack Philpott was the home team’s best with 35 from 61 balls, while skipper Sam Laffan made 34 off 110 deliveries. Jonah Koch was Keilor’s leading wicket-taker with 3-53.
HISTORY FOR BURNSIDE SPRINGS UNITED
It was a historic weekend in Division 5 for Burnside Springs United and they delivered in stunning fashion. Playing on their turf wicket at home for the first time, United stormed to an outright victory against Melton Centrals. Centrals were bowled out for 80 after being sent into bat as Shohan Rangika completed a five-wicket haul in an effort which included a hat-trick. The home side posted 9-127 dec. in response before again bowling their visitors out as Rangika again took five wickets. They eventually claimed a five-wicket win.
WESTMEADOWS BEAT WEATHER, TIGERS
Saturday morning’s rain forced Westmeadows and Sunshine United’s clash to be shortened to a one-dayer on Sunday. It didn’t worry the Tigers as they powered to a 114-run victory at Willowbrook Reserve. Openers Steve Mihelakos-James (80) and Michael Pell (62 not out) were dominant, making a 130-run stand. Skipper Donovan Pell kept the runs flowing with 41 from 37 balls and Suresh de Silva added 28 not out from 22. The home team posting 3-232 from 40 overs. In reply, Sunshine United was in early trouble at 3-25. Opener Tauron Gibson top-scored with 36, while Buddihika Algewatta added 34. The visitors all out 118. De Silva capped an all-round performance with 4-25. The Warriors are in fifth place, in a five-way tie for second, while the Tigers are still looking for their first win.
IMPS 10/10 OUTRIGHT
Williamstown Imperials cemented their place on top of the VTCA Division 2 ladder with a dominant outright win over Sunbury on the weekend. Having been sent in at Fearon Reserve on Saturday, Sunbury were skittled for just 64, captain Ashan Ranaweera providing some resistance with 20. Tom Burton finished with incredible figures of 3-2 from four overs, while Matt Grose claimed 3-25 in an impressive debut. Shane Jones (42) and Josh van Zyl (28) gave Imperials a strong foundation before losing 6-40. Grose added invaluable late runs, finishing 32 not out as the home team took a 94-run lead. Sunbury put up a stronger fight in the second innings, Sampath Perera leading the way with 59. However, Grose again ripped through the middle and lower order, finishing with 4-20, while Jarrod Milczak claimed 3-15 to dismiss the visitors for 100. Imperials required just six runs for victory and got the job done in 19 balls for a 10-wicket win.
DE SILVA INSPIRES REDBACKS
Harsha de Silva’s second century of the season, inspired West Coburg St Andrews to a 162-run victory over West Newport on the weekend. Backing up his 129 against Newport-Digman last round, de Silva smashed 117 at Morris Reserve. The match centre unfortunately does not detail how many boundaries he hit or how many balls he faced in his matchwinning knock. Isuru Okandage added 50 as the Redbacks posted 9-281. Dan Laver was the Lions’ best bowler with 3-51. In reply, Amit Nayyar played a lone hand for West Newport, top-scoring with 84, but no other batter scored more than 10. Kyle Adams (3-45) and Ryan Blair (3-26) were the main destroyers with the ball.
CYMS ON THE BOARD
Matthew Allsop inspired Williamstown CYMS to its first win of the Division 2 season on the weekend – a 99-run victory over Tullamarine at Fearon Reserve. After being sent in, Allsop top-scored with 88, helping CYMS post 7-266 declared. Angus Groen scored 53, while Aamir Fernandes added late runs, 38 not out. Fernandes then claimed 3-32 with the ball, combining with Jarion Hoyte (3-46) to dismiss Tullamarine for 167. Ethan Berger (3-40) and Leon Yogaraj (46no) were Tulla’s best.
DE ZILVA DEMOLITION JOB
Anthony de Zilva famously took 16 wickets in a match last season. He almost repeated the feat on the weekend, snaring an incredible 13 as Maribyrnong Park St Mary’s came agonisingly close to an outright win over Greenvale Kangaroos. The gun spinner claimed 7-41 in the Kangaroos’ first innings at Greenvale Reserve, helping skittle the hosts for 140. He collected 6-32 in the second dig, Greenvale this time all out 125. In between, Maribyrnong Park St Mary’s posted 8-161 declared, taking a 21-run lead after the first innings, Sam Evans leading the way with 60. Chasing 104 for outright victory, the Lions were 1-77 when stumps was called, falling 24 runs short. Evans denied a second half-century, finishing 48 not out.
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