VSDCA 2024-25: Croydon in touch with finals as Tom Scriven continues to impress

Croydon remains in touch with the VSDCA North-East finals ahead of a “tough” run home – led by a sizzling summer from Englishman Tom Scriven. But he’s not the only name impressing.

VSDCA 2024-25: Croydon's Tom Scriven (right) with coach Jack Conroy. Picture: Supplied

CROYDON remains in touch with the finals race ahead of what the captain-coach describes as a “tough” run home.

The Cockies made light work of a battling Coburg on Saturday, defending 130 in a 37-run victory.

They sit seventh on the ladder with five wins – three points out of the top six behind Mt Waverley.

Croydon captain-coach Jack Conroy lauded his bowling attack spearheaded by UK import Tom Scriven (3-23 off 7.2 overs) and Chris Brown (3-16 off nine). Meanwhile, Ross Dancey (2-17) and Conroy (2-19) helped finish the job.

“We didn’t get enough with the bat, but we know if we can get over 100, (and) with our bowling line-up, nearly anything’s defendable,” Conroy said.

“As a team we’ve had a bit of an inconsistent season … we really wanted to go in and win this game, Coburg had a fantastic win last week with both their openers getting big hundreds, so we just wanted to get good top order wickets.”

Scriven has especially impressed this season after landing from Leicestershire – the all-rounder and paceman leads the First XI for wickets with 18 at 15.56, while he’s also driven 190 runs.

“Tom’s been worth his weight in gold, both on and off field,” Conroy said.

“He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience over, and being a bit younger, around mid-20s, he’s fitted in fantastic amongst the team.

“He pretty much won us a game himself, he took five-fa against Donvale (in Round 7) with an old ball on a very hot day and a flat wicket.

“He’s a class above, he knows how to keep the ball moving, and extracts what there is out of the wicket … he spearheads our attack.

“(With the bat) he’s got a good amount of 30s and 40s, and we’re just waiting for him to pop and go nuts.”

But he’s not the only one catching the coach’s eye.

Eighteen-year-old Mitch Cestnik stepped up in the absence of club great Steve Wright against Preston the previous weekend – and plundered 80 runs from 117 balls batting at No. 4.

“That innings last week was top-notch and he’s got many more in him,” Conroy said.

“He’s really impressed me and is someone who, for sure, will play district cricket in the future. He’s one of the best fielders I’ve ever seen for his age.”

Balwyn (11th), St Bernard’s (third), Strathmore (12th), Plenty Valley (second) and Noble Park (fourth) await in the run home.

“We’ve got a pretty tough run home,” Conroy said.

“Three teams within the top six there that we’ll hopefully be really competitive against, hopefully if we win two or three or ideally every one, we’re a very good chance to lock a spot in that top six.”