VSDCA 2021-22: Balwyn remains in finals hunt

Their season was on the line, but a 90-run partnership helped the Tigers to a rousing win to keep in touch with the VSDCA North-East top six.

Balwyn remains in the finals hunt in the VSDCA’s North-East group following its rout of top-six outfit Croydon on Saturday.

The Tigers’ five-wicket win came courtesy of a 90-run partnership between middle-order bat Adi Narayana (61 not-out off 81 balls) and skipper Lachie Fitzpatrick (42 not-out off 65), lifting the visitors to 5-150 in their chase down of the Cockies’ 8-149.

The Tigers celebrate a wicket on Saturday. Picture: Georg Sal

Balwyn coach Clinton Kennon insisted his side’s “finals start now” in the lead-in to the clash, with its season on the line.

The Tigers now sit in seventh with a 7-4 record, just outside the top six on equal points with St Bernard’s (fifth) and Croydon (sixth).

“We set ourselves for this one … the boys played amazing and we had a plan at the start of the week of what we felt were the ingredients to beat Croydon,” Kennon said.

“Probably what I’ve been asking for all season was for Adi and Lachlan to deliver on their class, and Adi did that – his innings was high-class and Lachie played a crucial role in supporting him.”

But the Tigers’ proved more than a handful with the ball, with Vihaan Narayana (2-15 off four overs), Dom Greene (1-24 off seven), Adam Janes (1-27 off seven), Adi Narayana (1-16 off nine) and Harry Dixon (1-37 off nine) cleaning up.

Harry Dixon of Balwyn bowling celebrates his wicket. Picture: Georg Sal

Greene claimed the scalp of Croydon opening bat Jake Marnie who fell for 11 runs, while Will Pleming was run out for 40. Meanwhile, Cockies captain Steve Wright (19) and their top run-scorer Daniel Ivanovic (0) both fell cheaply.

“Every one of their batters have been doing their job this year,” Kennon said.

“Everyone who had ball-in-hand had a job to do and every wicket was crucial. Dom (Greene) took the big wicket this week … Stevie Wright’s wicket was a good one as well and ‘Gilly’ (Tom Gill) took a good catch up close again and Christian Toppi took an absolute screamer.

“That sort of stuff gets the boys going and we spoke about just those little things that do the business for you. It’s those little things and that’s what we’re getting better at.”

Balwyn has Endeavour Hills (second), Mount Waverley (ninth), Brunswick (10th) and Strathmore (third) in the run home.

“Everything we asked the boys to do during week, they’ve done and we now look to do it again against a really good side in Endeavour Hills,” Kennon said.