VMCU carnival: 50 of the leading players from the under-age series cricket
From centuries to bowling averages of 4.3, here are the players who made their mark in the annual under-age series.
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Centuries.
Bags of wickets.
Big performances in finals.
There was plenty of excellent cricket played in the VMCU competitions that finished with grand finals last Sunday.
Here are 50 of the leading players from across the seven sections.
Alistair Abernethy, South East
A haul of 5-45 in the first match set him up for a strong series and he went on to 15 wickets at 9.4 in the U16 Keith Mackay Shield. A prospect from Le Page Park Cricket and appeared for Moorabbin last season in the U15 John Craig Shield.
Ashish Ashish, Western Region
The Werribee Juniors and Werribee VSDCA youngster scored 205 runs at 41 in six hands for a team that went through to the grand final of the U18 Phil Arnold Shield. Also nabbed six wickets.
Jessica Aquilina, Diamond Valley
Had only the one dismissal during the carnival, against North West Metropolitan, while making 256 runs. She also took six wickets in the U12 Claudia Fatone Shield. Jessica is from Greensborough Cricket Club and lined up for Plenty Valley Thirds in Premier Cricket last Sunday.
Aryan Arora, Diamond Valley
Was among the best performers in the U16 Jim Beitzel Shield with 12 wickets at 9.7. Popped up in the lower grades at Subbies club Preston before Christmas, good experience for the youngster.
Eva Baird, Eastern
What a tournament for young Eva. She made three ducks. That happens. But she also made a century, 109 not out off only 57 balls against the Mornington Peninsula, with 20 fours and 1 six. And she had other scores of 93 retired, 47 and 36, giving her 285 runs at 57 in the U12 Claudia Fatone Shield. She’s also been in the runs for Surrey Hills.
Sam Bailey, South East
Had the distinction of striking with the ball in every match, grabbing 13 wickets at 10 in the U14 Russell Allen Shield. Signed off from the series with 2-31 in a grand final victory.
Katherine Baker, North West Metropolitan
Opened the bowling for her team in the U14 Julie Savage Shield and performed consistently to help NWM to the grand final. There were 13 wickets at 10.4 for the Moonee Ponds junior.
Kanishk Bollu, Western Region
Made the only century of the U18 Phil Arnold Shield, smacking 101 not out off 108 balls (with 16 boundaries) against a good Inner South East attack. Finished with 164 runs at 54.7 from five hands. Bollu is also averaging 50.8 for the Footscray Thirds in Premier Cricket this season.
William Borthwick, Mornington Peninsula
Borthwick played four matches in the U18 Phil Arnold Shield and scooped up 12 wickets at 9.2, with a best of 4-25 against Ferntree Gully and District. His performances were no surprise given he’s opening the bowling for Baxter in the top section of the Mornington Peninsula association.
Farzan Chowna, Western Region CA
Had a pleasing U18 Phil Arnold Shield series in the top-order, putting together scores of 47, 68, 20, 23 and 50 – 208 runs at 52. The youngster is already playing First XI Premier Cricket for Essendon.
Tom Collins, Ringwood District
Was the pick of the batsmen in the U16 Keith Mackay Shield, notching four half-centuries on his way to 277 runs at 46.2, including an even 50 in the grand final victory over the South East. Is having a busy season for Chirnside Park too.
Hamish Cooper, Western Region
Came in with 221 runs at 44.2 in the U16 Keith Mackay Shield after opening the tournament with a knock of 101 retired against North West Metropolitan.
Nicholas Critchley, South East
Crossed the 300-run mark in the U12 Phil Arnold Shield and only two dismissals for the series gave him an average of 155.5. Also played in the premiership team, hitting 48 retired in the grand final. A Bentleigh Cricket Club junior.
Anuki Dassanayake, Inner South East
Emerged from the tournament with an average of 131.5 in the U12 Claudia Fatone Shield, having lost her wicket only twice on the way to putting up 263 runs. Had a day out against Box Hill Reporter District, hammering 93 retired off 60 balls.
Kyara Delgama, North West Metropolitan
A bright prospect from Pascoe Vale United Cricket Club. She snaffled 12 wickets at just 4.4 in the U14 Julie Savage Shield, including a best of 4-5, in her first run in representative cricket.
Puneet Dhillon, Western Region
Had a best return of 5-5 off four overs against Ringwood District as she tallied an U12 Claudia Fatone Shield-best 14 wickets at 5.1. Competed in the School Sports Victoria U12 series last November.
Katherine Dekel, Inner South East
The Box Hill Premier player, a member of the Cricket Victoria U16 emerging players program, was a standout in four of her five matches in the U17 Mel Jones Shield. There were 214 runs at 107 and accurate bowling that was better than her wicket tally (three) suggested. She’s a good cricketer.
Nikki du Toit, Eastern
Didn’t fail in any of his six hits as he put up 256 runs at 85.3 in the U14 Russell Allen Shield. Was a Victorian schoolboys representative player in 2019-20 and is already playing in the lower grades at Subbies club Kew.
Jackson Edwards, Ringwood District
Was the dominant batsman in the U14 Russell Allen Shield, with his seven hands bringing him 280 runs at 93.3. Three times he hit the retirement score and he was 58 not out in another innings.
Josh Finkelstein, South East
No batsman found peace against the SECA paceman in the U18 Phil Arnold Shield. He captured 17 wickets at seven, highlighted by five-wicket bags against Ringwood District and North West Metro. Finkelstein was a state schoolboy under-age player and is with Melbourne in Premier ranks.
Simrth Singh Gill, Western Region
Averaged 55.3 in U14 Des Nolan Cup fixtures that featured a number of high-scoring players. Carried the team’s batting with 74 not out in the semi-final.
Liam Guiliano, South East
The Carnegie product earned good reviews for his innings of 84 not out in the U16 Keith Mackay Shield grand final. It gave him 216 runs at 54 for the series.
Sam Hawkins, Eastern
Hawkins has been scoring runs for Mont Albert this season and he carried his form into the U14 Des Nolan Cup, piling up 262 at 37.4.
Max Heffernan, Mornington Peninsula
No player spent more time at the creases in the U16 Jim Beitzel Shield than Heffernan, who earlier in the season played in the First XI for Subbies club Noble Park. He batted for 629 minutes for scores of 69, 11, 61, 56 and 34. He’s an excellent prospect.
Samohn Hereora, North West Metropolitan
Like Max Heffernan, spent a lot of time in the middle. She batted for 532 minutes in the U17 Mel Jones Shield, crafting three half-centuries and a total of 257 runs at 64.3. Is with Essendon Maribyrnong Park in Premier Cricket.
Charlie Hester, Eastern
It was a memorable series for the ECA youngster as he peeled off 264 runs at 66 and hit 38 not out in the grand final victory over the South East in the U14 Des Nolan Cup. He’s playing in Sunday Turf sides for Mont Albert.
James Johnstone, Ringwood District
Led his association’s bowling attack in the U16 Keith Mackay Shield with 12 wickets at 13.5. He also had good figures for Bayswater in last season’s John Craig Shield.
Jasmine Kamboj, North West Metropolitan
Another of the girls who presented problems for batters in the U12 Claudia Fatone Shield. Grabbed 3-8 in the semi-final and 3-24 in the grand final to take her wicket tally to 13 at only
3-4.
Amanpreet Kaur, Western Region
Five matches in the U17 Mel Jones Shield brought her 224 runs at 74.7 and five wickets at 17.8. Kaur is in her fourth season with Premier club Essendon Maribyrnong Park, where she’s considered a likely type with bat and ball.
Lucas Kennedy, South East
Scored the most runs in the U14 Des Nolan Cup, 279 at 55.8. Comes from the strong Washington Park Cricket Club.
James Keys, South East
Topped the batting charts in the U18 Phil Arnold Shield with 215 runs at 43, with a highest score of 77 against Box Hill Reporter District. Plays for East Sandringham and was promoted to the First XI Longmuir Shield team last Saturday.
William Killeen, Western Region
Led allcomers with the bat in the U12 Josh Browne Plate, with an impressive 242 runs at 60.5. At club level he’s yet to be dismissed playing in the Under 13 Saturday side for Williamstown CYMS.
Aarav Laxman, Diamond Valley
The only batsman in the U12 Phil Arnold Shield to bring up three figures, retiring on 100 – off only 60 balls – against North West Metro in the fifth round. It helped him to 293 runs at 48.8. Has played at Thomastown United and Donvale this season.
Amy Long, Eastern
A name to watch in female under-age ranks. Took the run aggregate in the Under 14 Julie Savage Shield with 209 at 34.8 and also captured 18 wickets at 4.3. Eastern was lucky it had Amy, who has emerged from North Alphington Cricket Club.
Jordan Lynn, Ringwood District
Captained the RDCA team in the U16 Jim Beitzel Shield and led from the front with 195 runs at an average of 48 and nine wickets at 8.3. A fast-rising player from St Andrew Cricket Club.
Jack Massey, Eastern
Finished only one run shy of 250 and averaged 49.8 for the U14 Des Nolan Cup premiership team. Another youngster making good progress at Mont Albert Cricket Club.
Isla Mattsson, South East
Played eight matches in the U12 Claudia Fatone Shield and made a good contribution in seven of them. Ended up with 266 runs at 42.7 and bowled economically too.
Jake Matthews, South East
A junior at Bentleigh Uniting and then East Sandringham, Matthews took the new ball for a strong SECA U16 Jim Beitzel Shield side and nabbed 12 wickets at 11.6.
Lewis McGaw, South East
Had a standout innings of 100 retired against the Mornington Peninsula in Round 4, off 121 balls and with 2 sixes and 10 fours. It lifted the Dingley junior to 232 runs at 58 in the U16 Keith Mackay Shield.
Angelina Panaia, North West Metropolitan
Took the new ball for NWM in the U12 Claudia Fatone Shield and did it well, collecting 13 wickets, conceding only 85 runs and averaging 4.3. Throw in 118 runs and she had a cracking carnival.
Lachlan Pasquali, Box Hill Reporter District
Was in the wickets in every game bar one as he claimed 12 scalps at 11.3 in the U16 Jim Beitzel Shield. Took 30 wickets for Templestowe last season playing a mix of junior and senior cricket.
Max Parrott, Mornington Peninsula
A retirement score of 60 – off only 41 balls – in Round 5 pushed him past 200 runs for the series (he finished with 227 at 45.4) in the U14 Russell Allen Shield. The right-hand batsman and wicketkeeper made his debut for the Langwarrin firsts at the age of 14. His brother Kyle is in the Second XI at Premier club Melbourne.
Lily Pelosi, North West Metropolitan
Stood at the top of the bowling figures in the U17 Julie Savage Shield, with her five matches producing 12 wickets at 5.3, including 4-8 against Western Region. Pelosi has joined Greenvale Kangaroos as the club moved towards Premier Firsts affiliation.
James Rosham, Eastern
Topped the bowling averages in the U14 Russell Allen Shield, claiming 14 wickets at 4.4. Opened the bowling against Western Region and burst through its batting with 5-5 off 7.1 overs.
Yuvraj Sharma, Western Region
Had a dazzling time of it in the U12 Phil Arnold Shield, being dismissed only twice and ending up with 332 runs at an average of 166. Retired on 44 in the grand final against South East. “He’s very good,’’ Brighton Sub-District player Johnny Damiano said of Sharma.
Alexandra Sheedy, Ringwood District
Sheedy is developing nicely at Premier club Ringwood and she had a good series for her local association, putting scores of 23, 54, 60no, 63ret and 28 in the book in the U17 Mel Jones Shield. Cricket Victoria has recognised her talent by placing her in the emerging players program.
Kanvar Singh, Dandenong District
The youngster from Berwick flew the flag for the proud Dandenong District association in the U12 Keith Mitchell Shield, pining off 250 runs at 83.3 and with a highest score of 94 not out.
James Sparks, Eastern
The Trinity Willson junior finished third on the U16 Jim Beitzel Shield run list with 262 at 43.7, behind teammates Xavier Tapsell and Luca Van Der Sluys. He’s having a good season: he made 100 not out for his club before Christmas.
Xavier Tapsell, Eastern
The allrounder was one of the leading players of the carnival, hitting 287 runs at 57.4 and collecting 10 wickets at 11.5 in the U16 Jim Beitzel Shield. From Kew Cricket Club, he was player of the match in the grand final after his unbeaten 84 against South East, when he shared an unbroken partnership of 138 with Sam Olsen. Retired on 103 in Round 5 against Inner South East.
Jasper Tudor, Eastern
The Glen Iris junior scalped 12 batsmen in the U14 Des Nolan Cup, picking up the most wickets in the section. He also figured in the grand final win over South East.
Ishita Tiwari, South East
Had an impressively consistent series for the SECA, totting up 273 runs at an average of 91 in the U12 Claudia Fatone Shield. Another promising player coming out of Bentleigh Cricket Club.
Luca Van Der Sluys, Eastern
Opened the carnival with a hand of 95 (run out) against North West Metropolitan and kicked on to 278 runs at 55.6, with two more half-centuries. Is playing for Balwyn and Boorondara.
Oscar Virlombier, South East
Used bat and ball to impressive effect, picking up 11 wickets at only 4.5 and playing two good hands for the premiership team in the U12 Josh Browne Plate. Now playing with the strong Ormond program.
Alexander Wilhelm, Eastern
Showed his ability with bat and ball, making 157 runs and taking eight wickets in the U12 Josh Browne Plate. Son of Oliver Wilhem, who played Premier Cricket for Hawthorn-Monash University.
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