VSDCA: Caulfield skittles Ormond for 55

A hostile spell by a big quickie has blasted Caulfield into the VSDCA semi finals and ended Ormond’s season abruptly.

Caulfield paceman Oliver Hayes. Picture: Valeriu Campan

A season that began under a cloud is building to an exciting crescendo for Caulfield.

Player departures, including champion Graeme Rummans, and injuries before Round 1 had some wondering if the perennially strong Fielders could remain in the top echelon.

Fast forward six months and Caulfield has again delivered, powering into a home semi-final.

The Fielders skittled Ormond for 55 on Sunday to secure a resounding victory in the VSDCA qualifying final.

Paceman Ollie Hayes bowled with fire to take 5-6 off 4.5 overs, ripping through the Ormond middle order.

A day before, Caulfield batted first and put up 242, with James Small smacking 43 late in the day after Jeremy Corby, promoted up the order to No. 5, made a vital 54 and opener David Tantsis-Hall 66, going past 500 runs for the season.

Caulfield batter Jeremy Corby.

Lachlan Graf. Pictures: Valeriu Campan

Fielders playing-coach Lachie Graf thought it was “a very good score” but he also expected Ormond to give it a nudge.

Instead, Caulfield’s bowlers Andrew King (3-20 off 5 overs), Graf (2-20 off 6) and Hayes had Ormond swaying on the ropes from the opening over, the Monders reeling at 1-0, 2-7 and 3-11.

Ormond lost its last seven wickets for 18 runs, its run chase expiring in the 16th over.

“I guess it’s one of those things…you always hope that’s going to happen,” Graf said.

“It all went our way on Sunday.

“A beautiful bowling performance by big Ollie Hayes, he was unplayable as his figures show.

“He was unreal, he was just in good areas the whole time. He asks questions of all batters when you face him. He was spectacular.

“He’s a tricky customer just with that little bit of extra bounce, it makes it hard for the batters.”

Ormond bowler Nigel Hunt.

Caulfield batter Lucas Agar walks off. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Hayes, originally from Ballarat, was injured (side strain) in the opening round of the season and was sidelined until January.

“We missed him,” Graf said.

Graf said Ormond’s batting capitulation “definitely surprised us”.

“It was one of those days when we put the ball in the right spot, they nicked them, they missed them,” he said.

“It was just one of those days for them I think.

“We were pretty rapt with the result.”

Caulfield will host St Bernard’s OC, which has won 10 games in a row, in a semi-final this weekend.

Graf praised his side for fighting hard this season.

“At the start of the season when we’d lost seven guys and then had Ollie (Hayes) go down in round one… if you’d have said we’re going to finish second and play home finals I would have absolutely snatched it,” Graf said.

“So we’ve found a way to get it done this year which is good.

“Obviously it would be nice to go a little bit further.”