Kew, Altona and Spotswood claim wins as VSDCA North-West finals kick off
A big weekend in VSDCA North-West finals with Kew staging a memorable comeback, Altona’s stunning upset keeps its season alive and Spotswood triumph.
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It’s finals time in VSDCA North-West.
Kew, Altona and Spotswood claimed thrilling wins to progress to the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, despite it’s upset loss, St Bernard’s remains in the race after earning a double chance.
Check out all the highlights from the weekend’s action here.
WILDSMITH INSPIRES KEW MIRACLE
Kew captain David Wildsmith added another chapter to his heroic season on Sunday, lifting his club to an unlikely victory.
At 4-14, the Blues looked gone in the VSDCA North-West qualifying final against Hoppers Crossing at Victoria Park.
Enter Wildsmith.
The skipper’s undefeated 68 dragged his team to a three-wicket victory.
“It was incredible … Wildy being there at the end and hitting the winnings runs with Jack,” Kew coach Seb Contos said.
“Wildy played a really special innings, sometimes there are no words or superlatives when you’re talking about Wildy.
“He’s had an incredible season, averaged well over 50, and he’s always there at the end when we need those winnings runs or a key partnership.
“The knock was under a lot of pressure, he showed what a class player he is, and it’s not just the runs but the way he coaches and leads the team as captain on gameday is amazing.”
After winning the toss and bowling, Will McGlaughlin (3-27), Jack Carroll (3-33) and Sam Pearce (3-29) ran through Hopper Crossing, the visitors dismissed for 147.
However, forced to face 13 overs before stumps, Kew was in immediate trouble at 3-12.
James Clark then fell early on Sunday to have the hosts 4-14 before nightwatchman Michael Letson and Wildsmith rebuilt the innings.
Letson scored 11 runs from 92 balls to turn the momentum in a 52-run partnership before Sam Pearce (24 from 28) and Jack Carroll (26 not out off 32) launched a counter-attack.
All the while Wildsmith was the anchor in a 136-ball knock, hitting the winning runs at the end.
“We backed in our bowlers and fielders, they’ve been leading it all year,” Contos said.
“We got wickets early after winning the toss and sending them in and our spin twins (Carroll and Pearce) stepped up and were hard to get away.
“It wasn’t an ideal start (with the bat), it’s always hard when you bowl a team out early and you’ve got to get through that difficult period (before stumps).
“The way we bounced back on Sunday, we know we’ve got a lot of batting, and the boys stepped up once the heat kicked in again.”
Kew will now face qualifying final surprise-packet Altona at Victoria Park for a spot in the grand final.
‘MATURE’ ALTONA WIN THROUGH
Altona coach Aaron Whear had one word to describe his side’s upset win over St Bernard’s – “mature”.
The A’s stunned the minor premier by five wickets on the back of what Whear said was a “pretty complete performance” as they returned to the Subbies finals for the first time since 2019-20.
Tom McConville (4-32) and Adam Yates (3-38) set the tone with the ball to have the Snowdogs all out for 142 as Chris Spinella top scored with 34.
“The bowling unit as a whole was impressive but those two boys were the standouts,” Whear said.
“St Bernard’s are a quality side so we knew only our best was going to be good enough.”
Altona took 70.2 overs to reach its target with captain Ben Davies showing fantastic grit with an unbeaten 52 off 174 balls.
Snowdogs captain Kyle Adams was the pick of the bowlers with 4-45.
“He’s been an anchor for us all year,” Whear said of his skipper.
“We knew we were going to have to be patient, they really made us work for our runs, there were hardly any loose balls.
“I thought it was a very mature and patient innings from everyone.”
Altona will hit the road again as it aims to keep its premiership dream alive against Kew.
“They’re a quality side. You can’t play badly and expect to win a final,” Whear said.
SPOTSWOOD PEAKING AT THE RIGHT TIME
Spotswood won through to another VSDCA semi-final with victory over Werribee but the story of the day was Declan O’Brien.
On day one, the Spotswood junior hit his maiden First XI century with 124 off 193 to guide his side to 276 and a much more defendable total.
It was a performance which won the praise of coach Dan Schuppan.
“He’s been the hardest working player since I’ve been here,” Schuppan said.
“It was an unbelievable knock given the circumstances – the heat, the situation where we really needed him to go big.”
Werribee’s opening partnership of Adam Alifraco (41 off 72) and Matthew Burton (74 off 124) threatened to take the game away from Spotty.
However, Sandeep Mandalika claimed both openers to break the game open.
Schuppan then took the most of his opportunities with 6-47.
“We just felt a wicket could give us every opportunity to swing momentum,” Schuppan said.
“The last couple of games I feel like we’ve got our brand back. We went up a notch again on the weekend and it put us in a good spot.”
Spotswood will now host St Bernard’s at McLean Reserve for a spot in the grand final.
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