U18 Victorian Premier Cricket: Young guns who stole the show in semi-finals

Geelong was dominant with bat and ball on its way to securing the Victorian Premier Cricket under-18 men's grand final. See how the decider played out highlighted by a stunning opening bowling spell.

Geelong's successful team.

Geelong Cricket Club’s golden summer has continued with another junior team success.

The under-18 Premier men claimed their respective grand final on Saturday with a 150-run thumping of Prahran in the decider at Mervyn Hughes Oval.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Geelong posted 9-235 as Santhosh Ramireddy top scored with 62 runs off 75 deliveries.

Ramireddy’s second half-century of the competition included two boundaries.

Liam Biddiscombe was the second highest scorer for Geelong after finishing with 39 off 50 before he was run out.

Man of the match Nathan Harper steamrolled through Prahran’s top order, claiming the first four wickets of the run chase as Prahran eventually fell to 6-39.

Prahran was eventually all out for 85.

Harper finished with figures of 4-14 from his five overs.

Nathan Harper was named player of the match.

Zane Attard got in on the act with the next two wickets, finishing with figures of 2-28.

Liam Biddiscombe capped a strong all-round performance with 3-6, including the last two, to go along with two catches.

Lincoln Koliba finished as the competition’s leading run scorer with 386 at an average of 48.25.

Ramireddy was Geelong’s next best with 214 at 35.67.

Attard was Geelong’s leading wicket taker with 15 at 15.33 with Harper also in double figures (10 at 23.1).

The Cats’ win was alongside the Marg Jennings Cup, under-15 girls, success earlier in the summer.

SEMI-FINAL REVIEW

Geelong Cricket Club’s rising stars are eyeing another piece of silverware this summer.

The under-18 men’s team won through to the grand final of the Victorian Premier Cricket competition on Sunday with a thrilling three-wicket win over Melbourne.

The Cats managed to chase down the 264-run target it had been set by Melbourne at Beaumaris Secondary College on Sunday.

James Rosham had set up the innings for Melbourne with an impressive 54 not out from 49 deliveries as openers Ritin Raman (42 off 63) and Sam Anderson (49 off 61) had given their side the perfect platform.

Zane Attard was the pick of the bowlers for Geelong after finishing with 2-58 off nine overs.

But Attard also was part of a run-out which claimed the scalp of Raman as he produced a strong display in the field.

Nathan Harper and Ted Bain were the other wicket takers.

Geelong lost its first wicket for just 22 runs before opener Lincoln Koliba gave his side the perfect platform to successfully chase down the total.

Koliba finished with 79 off 105 including 10 boundaries and a six to keep the Cats in the hunt.

He found vital support through Santhosh Ramireddy (48 off 61) and Attard (45 off 37).

Darcy Aitken (7no) and Corey Paull (1no) finished the job with the latter hitting the winning runs off the first delivery he faced.

Prahran prevailed in the second semi-final after overcoming Footscray by nine wickets in a game highlighted by Alex Turner’s unbeaten century.

Footscray had posted 8-173 from its 45 overs as Priyansh Chokshi top scored with 30 not out off 31 with Prahran able to take quick wickets before the batters got away.

Turner, alongside Tom Tsatas, took two wickets each in a bowling attack which had plenty of even contributions.

Opening the innings for Prahran, Turner took the game by the scruff of the neck and finished with 100 off 93 with 10 boundaries and three 6s.

It marked back-to-back centuries for the Prahran rising star who reached triple figures in the last U18 Premier game against Camberwell Magpies.

Rex Macalister opened the innings alongside Turner and hit 32 off 62 as Jesse van Rooyen hit 31 off 21 to help finish the innings.

FINAL POOL GAME REVIEW

As Victorian Premier Cricket under-18 action returned, it was the batters who dominated the day’s play.

There were some brilliant centuries in matchwinning knocks, while others shone with quickfire efforts.

See the wrap of Sunday’s play below.

Ringwood picked up a 158-run with over Frankston Peninsula as Luke Ivanovic blasted a brilliant century of 107 runs off just 68 balls. Ivanovic’s innings included 11 boundaries as the home side posted 5-282. The Heat were all out for 124 as Kenul Edirisinghe and Zach Seal took two wickets each.

Melbourne ensured it finished unbeaten with a thrilling three-wicket win over Fitzroy Doncaster. The Lions were all out for 201 as openers Harrison Sheers and James Heaney top scored with 39 and 34 respectively. James Rosham and Roland Murphy did the damage with the ball taking three wickets each. Ben Wickham led the run chase with a half-century while Ashton Frost added 43.

Footscray locked away its place in the top-four with a comprehensive run chase against Carlton. The Dogs got across the line by six wickets as Lachlan Hay continued his brilliant summer with 82 not out along with Cam Jenkins’ 73 off 68 including 12 boundaries. The Blues had posted 245 led by Alvin Simon’s 74 and Vincent Bush’s 72.

Geelong picked up a key win after overcoming Kingston Hawthorn by five wickets in a game which had some exciting batting performances. The Hawks posted 7-191 from their 50 overs as Aditya Chowdhary (55 off 95) and Charlie Aldridge (52 off 62) both posted half-centuries. Despite losing some early wickets in the chase, Santhosh Ramireddy (68 off 82) and Liam Biddiscombe (59 off 62) were able to stabilise the innings to put their side in a strong position with Zane Attard and Monty Maloney finishing the job.

Prahran ensured it finished second on the ladder with a dominant nine-wicket win over Camberwell Magpies. The home side successfully chased down 224 as Alex Turner hit a ton, 100 off 88, and Rex Macalister and Jesse van Rooyen finished on 65 and 43 not out respectively. Camberwell’s score was headlined by half-centuries to Ed Winneke and Sam O’Brien. Parth Rath took four wickets.

Melbourne University picked up its third win of the tournament after overcoming Essendon by 103 runs in what was an even contribution across the board. Matthew Gome top scored with 46 off 69 as Uni posted 9-225 before bowling the Bombers out for 122. Harry Steele and Krish Kumar were the pick of the bowlers with two wickets each.

St Kilda closed out its tournament with a four-wicket win after overcoming Richmond by four wickets in an event contest. Richmond had posted 151 all out as Walter Jackson and Raju Reddycharla took three wickets each. In response, Gurbir Singh led the way with 43 off 32 to guide his side across the line.

Lenny Wilton made a century for Casey South-Melbourne.

Greenvale Kangaroos put together an exciting two-wicket win against Casey South Melbourne as Lewis Dichiera turned matchwinner in a brilliant display. He finished with a blistering 87 not out off just 49 balls including five boundaries and five 6s alongside Harry Fitzgerald’s 71 to lead his side across the line. CSM had posted 3-296 as Lenny Wilton hit an exciting ton to go with half-centuries to Jude Owen and Aaron D’Souza.

Northcote ran out 112-run winners against Dandenong as Earl Dicesare hit a brilliant 119 off 106 including 14 boundaries and three 6s. The home side posted 8-267 as Will Hanlon hit 81 off 121. Dandenong was all out for 155 as Dicesare led the way with the ball, taking 3-31.