Reigning premier Plenty Valley in danger of missing Subbies finals
Reigning VSDCA premier Plenty Valley captain Ryan Pearson admits his team might need to win every game in the run home to be a chance of making finals after going down to ladder-leader Oakleigh.
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Plenty Valley’s VSDCA premiership defence goes on the line in the next fortnight.
The Bats returned from the Christmas break with a disappointing 28-run loss to North-South group ladder-leader Oakleigh on Saturday and face third-placed Brighton in a two-day clash starting this weekend.
Last season’s premier sits 11th on the table, six points behind Kew in sixth, with four games remaining.
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Plenty Valley skipper Ryan Pearson conceded his team would need to win every game to keep its season alive.
“We’re still a massive chance to make finals, we’ll go out against Brighton next week and give it a red-hot crack,” Pearson said.
“I feel like our team is as good as any on paper, but we just haven’t put the performances together.
“We’ve done two of three disciplines really well every game but it’s been the third one that’s cost us each week.”
After hosting Brighton at Yarrambat War Memorial Park, the Bats meet Ormond (away), Elsternwick (home) and Moorabbin (away) in the run home.
Oakleigh won the toss at DW Nicoll Reserve, but was restricted by Plenty Valley’s bowlers, reaching 8-157 from its 45 overs.
Former Victoria batsman Graeme Vimpani showed he’s lost none of his skill, posting 41 at the top of the order, while Connor Byrne (52 not out) top scored for the home team.
Michael Rogneda was the main destroyer for the Bats, finishing with 4-48.
After losing Rory Collins early, Plenty Valley looked in control at 1-68 before Pearson (45) misjudged a delivery from Dravid Rao (3-25) and was stumped.
It was downhill from there as Callum Nankervis was out in the same over and the visitors lost 9-61 to be dismissed for 129 in 41.5 overs.
“I thought we bowled really, really well to restrict them to 157. We thought on that ground it was very gettable,” Pearson said.
“At 1-68, with myself and Simon (Black) at the crease I thought we were ahead of the game … I ran past one and got stumped and it collapsed from there.
“It’s been a story of our year, we lost wickets in clumps and didn’t bat out the overs.
“We went too hard when we didn’t need to, it’s the sort of ground where we can milk the ones and twos.”
Pearson, Black (34) and Blake Pearson (14) were the only Bats’ batsmen to reach double figures as Geoff Latham claimed 3-16 for Oakleigh.