SECA 2024/25: Finals game-changers named
Crunch time has arrived in the South East Cricket Association — and we have listed the players set to shake up the finals in the Longmuir, Woolnough, Quiney and Pullen shields.
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Game on …
It all goes on the line when the SECA finals hit off on Saturday.
In Longmuir Shield, West Bentleigh hosts East Sandringham in the qualifying final, while Bentleigh Uniting faces Le Page Park in a do-or-die elmination final.
Woolnough Shield pacesetters Washington Park hosts Mackie, and Omega and Elwood do battle.
In the tightly-contested Quiney Shield, Bentleigh Uniting faces Omega for a spot in the grand final, and Le Page Park hosts Carnegie South in the elimination final.
There’s plenty of in-form players involved in the Pullen Shield finals, with East Sandringham hosting Highett West at Shane Warne Oval, and Melbourne Wanderers welcoming Hampton United.
We’ve identified the key players who will be pivotal in their side’s premiership quests in the top four divisions.
LONGMUIR SHIELD
Buddhika De Alwis, Bentleigh Uniting
The left-arm spinner has been a handful for batsmen this season with his control and subtle variations. He’s also played vital innings with the bat, including an unbeaten 63 against Le Page Park.
Oshan De Silva, Le Page Park
The explosive paceman has the ability to rip through a batting line-up, but can also hit a good line and length. And his late-innings batting can be just as damaging.
Jordan Hesline, East Sandringham
Good spinners are crucial in finals and the quality leggie is sure to be influential. He has taken wickets regularly and economically.
Peter Mentiplay, Le Page Park
The well-organised left-hander blasted an unbeaten 145 against semi-final combatant Bentleigh Uniting in November when he was savage on anything short or overpitched.
Jayce Morgan, West Bentleigh
Made a sizzling start to the season with successive scores of 73no, 79, 78no, 97 and 102. Goes into the finals as the leading run scorer in the competition (560, at 70).
Uptal Patel, West Bentleigh
An in-form all-rounder who has collected 18 wickets with his left-arm seamers in his past five matches, and cracked a couple of half centuries.
Ben Pryor, East Sandringham
The Zebras skipper has all the shots and is equally adept against spin and pace. Plundered 110 a few weeks ago to go with four half centuries this season.
Zach Rattray, West Bentleigh
The destructive opener can take a game away from the opposition very swiftly. Cracked 94 a couple of weeks ago in an ominous return to top form.
Afan Sheriff, West Bentleigh
A clean hitter of the ball who is averaging over 51 with the bat, while his medium pace bowling is sure to be a key in finals.
Malin Silva, Bentleigh Uniting
The leg spinner has had a tremendous season, taking 29 wickets at 16, including two five-wicket hauls. Tosses it up and has good control. And is capable of making handy runs in the middle order.
WOOLNOUGH SHIELD
Ryan Heywood, Washington Park
Has been a picture of consistency with the bat all season and rarely fails. Scores runs at a decent clip when he gets going and hits plenty of maximums.
Lachlan Harris, Elwood
Elwood’s skipper is hard to look past as one of the biggest threats heading into finals. The division’s top run-scorer is the only player that eclipsed the coveted 500-run mark in the home and away season. A player Elwood will look to build its innings around in finals.
Brodie Pedder, Omega
Has been the division’s top bowler all season with a stunning 29 wickets at an average of just 12.34. Can also provide handy late innings runs on the odd occasion.
Sam Frawley, Mackie
The captain-coach recruited from Seaford shapes as a matchwinner and has been one of the Woolnough Shield’s top wicket-takers with 23 scalps. The quick also has a tidy average of 15. Has also been a brilliant tailend performer with the bat this year and has a pair of half centuries with a high score of 81 not out.
Kasun Niranjana, Washington Park
The all-rounder has done his best work with the ball this year as one of the competition’s most potent bowlers and has snagged two five-wicket hauls in his tally of 23 wickets. Has also had some solid innings with the bat, including a fine knock of 72 against Hampton United.
James Cooke, Mackie
The runs haven’t always flowed for Cooke this season but when he gets going he is hard to stop. On the two occasions he’s scored above 40 he has gone on and converted it into tons.
Glenn Beckett, Omega
One of the Woolnough Shield’s top run-scorers this season has already crunched four half centuries. Has also had a good year behind the stumps with 23 catches and five stumpings.
Jesse Barker, Elwood
Elwood’s new coach has proved to be a great addition as the club fights to return to the top flight. An all-round threat, Barker has scored four half centuries in all competitions with the bat while picking up consistent wickets with the ball. Has only gone one Woolnough Shield match without a scalp this season.
QUINEY SHIELD
Charlie Davidson, Bentleigh Uniting
Has been a top run-scorer in the Quiney Shield this season and can produce a big score on his day. Has a ton to his name as well as a 98 this year.
Ben Robinson, Carnegie South
Having joined Carnegie from Premier Cricket’s lower grades with Camberwell, Robinson’s impact has been immediate this season with a division-high average of 65.43. He sits second on the runs tally and has only once failed to reach double figures, with seven scores above 45 in all competitions.
Jarryd Wilson, Omega
Enters finals in a red-hot patch of form from his past three matches with back-to-back five-wicket hauls followed by a bag of four against Washington Park in his last match.
Sam Boontjes, Bentleigh Uniting
The wickets have been plentiful for left-arm quick Boontjes this season, and he is averaging just 12.31 with ball in hand.
Darren Wilton, Le Page Park
The top run-scorer of the Quiney Shield season, Wilton has amassed 526 runs already and is averaging above 50. Has enjoyed a stellar season with five scores above 60 and three above 88. Scores his runs at a decent clip too.
Luke Wescombe, Omega
Has been in form with four half centuries, including a monster knock of 119 against Kingston Heath. Is someone Omega can build their innings around.
Sayeed Shah, Le Page Park
When he’s on, he’s on. Every time Shah picks up a wicket, he has gone on to take at least two but often three or more, with a pair of five-for’s to his name as well.
Ethan Capp, Le Page Park
Has been running rampant with the new ball. Finished the home and away season with a sub-10 bowling average and 20 of his 21 wickets came in his past five games. Will be crucial for Le Page.
Will Nash, Carnegie South
Impossible to ignore the Quiney Shield’s leading wicket-taker, who can also provide some handy middle order runs. Like most of the grade’s top bowlers, he has found form at the right time and enters finals off the back of a display as good as they come after taking 8-66 from 28.5 overs against Elwood. Also has a haul of six scalps to his name this season.
PULLEN SHIELD
Akshay Alva, Melbourne Wanderers
The opener has been consistently in the runs all season, accumulating 337 at 28.
Mark Bell, Hampton United
Experience is crucial in finals and the ever-reliable Bell can be relied on to lead the way with the ball.
Harsh Chaudhary, Highett West
The livewire paceman has collected 19 wickets at 12, proving a handful for batsmen with his probing line and length.
Winton Corr, Highett West
The experienced right-hander has played with style and consistency as he’s put together 425 runs at 47 this campaign, including six scores above 40.
Jayden Crosby, Hampton United
The busy No. 3 has flourished in almost every match, compiling 428 runs at including three half-centuries and a stack of boundaries.
Udit Ghuliani, Melbourne Wanderers
The matchwinning all-rounder has been dominant, making 459 runs at 45, including knocks of 95, 104no (off 80 balls) and 130, as well as taking 23 wickets at 18.
Eliot Jurdukian, East Sandringham
The opener is averaging 51 with the bat having powered past 400 runs in Pullen Shield with a season-best knock of 91 in the last round.
Jack Lourie, East Sandringham
Smacked 111 off 80 balls (with 5 sixes) against Melbourne Wanderers a few weeks ago. And has been outstanding with the ball, taking 18 wickets at 12.
Will Lourie, East Sandringham
Goes into the finals with back-to-back centuries under his belt. All eyes will be on him.
Griffin Murphy, East Sandringham
Blitzed a swashbuckling 224no off 159 balls (30 fours, 3 sixes) in the last round, oozing class.
Ben McDonald, Highett West
The top-order batsman has had a terrific season, churning out 455 runs at 50. Deals with anything short. And he’s also nabbed 18 wickets at 17 with his bouncy mediums.
Liam Pilcher, East Sandringham
The paceman has collected 24 wickets at 10.8 this season, making early strikes in just about every game.
Trent Thompson, Hampton United
The swing bowler has reached into his bag of tricks often this season to capture 25 wickets at 16.
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