Plenty Valley claim thrilling VSDCA upset victory over Brunswick

Plenty Valley young guns Jack Atkinson, 15, and Julian Drohan, 17, withstand immense pressure in a thrilling VSDCA win over Brunswick.

Julian Drohan in action for Plenty Valley.

A 15-year-old and 17-year-old were the heroes as Plenty Valley produced a stunning VSDCA upset victory over Brunswick on Saturday.

Under extreme pressure at the death, Jack Atkinson, 15, and Julian Drohan, 17, belied their age and defied more experienced rivals to bowl the Bats to a three-run win at Gillon Oval.

After being put in by the home team, a critical 68 from opener Rory Collins saw Plenty Valley post 5-159.

Brunswick made a strong start to the chase before Cal Nankervis helped turn the game favour with a blistering spell of 4-33.

Nankervis claimed the first four wickets of the Brunswick innings, including the key scalps of Karl Mayne, Muhammad Shakeel and Clint McKay.

Plenty Valley bowler Julian Drohan.

Jack Atkinson in action for Plenty Valley.

Atkinson kept the pressure on with 1-16 off five overs as the game came down to the final over with the Wicks still needing 10 runs.

Despite not bowling all day, Bats captain Michael Rogneda had a hunch Drohan was the man to finish and he duly delivered.

“I was confident he could hit wide yorkers, they were targeting mid-on, mid-wicket, square leg, so I said I want you to bowl full and wide outside off stump,” Rogneda said.

“It was a bit of a gut feel, he’s only 17 and in his third or fourth First XI game, but I thought he could execute it.

“We didn’t start that well with the ball but we fought back and Cal got the first four wickets, he really turned the game for us.

“Then our young blokes at the end, Jack Atkinson is only 15 and bowled really tight and Jules finished them off.”

It’s a critical win for Plenty Valley after a season-opening loss to Kew.

In his second game for the club, Daniel Taylor contributed an important 24 with the bat in a 53-run stand with Collins, before picking up 2-27 with the ball including Wicks captain Liam Murphy for 31.

Rogneda said the win would be a huge boost for the club with winnable games against Preston and Melton before the Christmas break.

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“It was an awesome win, the feeling in the rooms after the game was why you play cricket,” he said.

“I was really proud of the group, how Rory (Collins) took ownership and everyone batted around him and Daniel Taylor playing a key role.

“For a young group it gives us a lot of confident but we’re under no illusions that there were patches in the game where we can still improve.”

Five players picked up one wicket for Brunswick, while last man out David Bonavia top-scored with 36, as the chase came up agonisingly short.