Impressive individual displays highlight round 4 of VTCA day one play

Tailenders put on a show with the bat, young guns made their mark and some sides had awful days with the bat. Here’s everything you need to know from the latest action in the VTCA.

The opening day of round 4 produced some surprises in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association.

Bowlers turned into stars with the bat and ball in an thrilling day of action.

Here’s everything you need to know.

LIONS FEAST

Deer Park plundered a mammoth 6-354 on day one of its VTCA Senior Division clash with Craigieburn at DS Aitken Reserve. The powerful Lions batting order was firing on all cylinders as Hashan Wanasekara (83), Dean Russ (70 not out), Daniel Sartori (69) and Ricky Suvada (52) all plundered half-centuries. No.3 James Leach was the only man to miss out, scoring eight. The total puts Deer Park in the box seat for a first innings win, or even outright win, when play resumes on Saturday. For Craigieburn, Nathan Pappin, James Portou and Darren Wotu all took two wickets.

OLD AND THE NEW STAR FOR THE SAINTS

In Division 1, St Francis De Sales could almost do wrong with the ball after they rolled PEGS for just 93 inside 50 overs on Saturday. And it came on the back of three wickets apiece from the experienced Ben Harding and young gun Lucas McKinnon. Tim Hughes also chipped in with a couple. At stumps, the home side were comfortably on their way to a victory at 4-77 with McKinnon unbeaten on 21 alongside Luke Smith (6no).

Lucas McKinnon of St Francis de Sales.Picture: George Salpigtidis

GASKETT DOING WITH THE BAT

The reigning Paxino Medallist is a renowned wicket-taker but Matt Gaskett played a critical role with the bat for Keilor on Saturday. Coming in with the Blues in a bit of strife at 6-138 against reigning premier Yarraville Club, Gaskett smashed 82 from 95 balls. He was the last man out as the home team posted a defendable 251. Jarryd Clements was the second top-scorer with 38. Trent Lawford (3-44) and Clubbers captain-coach Mitch Johnstone (3-67) were the leading wicket-takers. Gaskett will now play a key role with the ball if his team are to emerge victorious this weekend.

DOM’S DAY OUT FOR ALTONA NORTH

Domenic Di Guglielmo is usually doing damage with the ball for Altona North but at the weekend he was smashing valuable order runs. He finished with 71 not out as his side posted 9-232 from its 80 overs against Doutta Stars in Division 1. His innings included seven boundaries after a middle order collapse for the home side. For Douttas, Aidan McConnell and Tim Moses snagged three wickets each.

TIGERS GET LOWER ORDER HELP

Sunshine United was staring down the barrel against Westmeadows as they fell to 1-2 then 2-34, 3-42, 4-67 and even 5-81 when Lahiru Kumara fell for 26. However, lower No.6 Matthew Sipala (26) and Keiren Azzopardi (38) steadied the ship and then lower-order bats Buddika Algewatta (46) and Wajh Bangash (16) turned the game around. Azzopardi and Algewatta put on a 57-run partnership for the seventh wicket to help the Tigers post 215 in the first innings. Jackson Smith (3-56) and Pathum de Mel (3-73) were Westmeadows’ leading wicket-takers. The Warriors will fancy their chances of picking up a win when play resumes on Saturday.

HORROR SCORES UNDERPIN DIVISION 2 ACTION

It was a day for the bowlers in the opener to round 4 as several clubs struggled to put competitive totals on the board. Newport-Digman was rolled for just 63 by West Newport as Christian Eva finished with five wickets before his side raced to 5-164 at stumps. Sunbury was rolled for just 90 by the Altona Roosters, who have already taken first innings points with Nadeera Thuppahi (29no) now targeting a big score on day two. Williamstown CYMS is just 13 runs short of its target after they bowled Keilor Park out for 114 as Ismail Baharami finished with 5-23. Meanwhile, Nishitha Weerakoon was able to hit a wonderful century for Tullamarine as it posted 5-266 against Royal Park Brunswick.

Aberfeldie’s Cameron West. Picture: Andy Brownbill

ABERS RACK ‘EM UP

Big scores are build on big partnerships and Aberfeldie had plenty on Saturday as they posted 7-320 against Sydenham-Hillside at Hillside Reserve. Captain-coach Tallan Wright scored 106 in a superb performance, while Cameron West notched 89 at the top of the order. West and Charlie Thurston put on 82 for the second wicket, West and Wright had a 63-run partnership, and Wright and Kieran Gray came together for a 59-run partnership. On a tough day for bowlers, Gayashan Weerasekara was the Storm’s best with 3-41.

ST ALBANS IN THE BOX SEAT

Nils Priestley’s second straight century has St Albans in the box seat for victory over Druids at Kings Park. Saints captain Shafraz Mohamed (3-34) and Akila Isanka (3-55) ripped through the Druids batting line-up on day one on Saturday. The visitors were all out 190, with only Charith Mendis (66), Charith Perera (35), Samitha Sepala (32) and Luke Shoesmith (22 not out) offering any resistance. Priestley then peeled off a sublime 100 from 67 balls before stumps to have his team sitting pretty at 1-109. The ton included nine boundaries and five sixes and comes after an even 100 against Deer Park the week before. Such was Priestley’s dominance, Mitch Pittaway was out for a duck and Lihan Dulshan is seven not out.

CAROLINE SPRINGS THANK THE TAIL

Flynn Rice (31 off 113) and Lucas Blackman (56 off 113) helped Caroline Springs to a competitive 226 after sharing a 93-run stand for the final wicket against East Keilor. The visitors are now 3-25 in the run chase.

BOWLERS DOMINATE BALL IN DIVISION 4

St Andrew’s and Moonee Valley both might be spending some time in the nets this week. St Andrew’s were rolled for 81 in their first innings but still managed to take the points after they rolled the visitors for 74. Adam Carter took five scalps.