VSDCA North-West: check out all the highlights from the weekend’s action

The VSDCA North-West finals race is heating up. Simon Lambert delivers for Hoppers Crossing, while Plenty Valley and Preston youngsters impress.

Simon Lambert inspired Hoppers Crossing’s win. Picture: George Sal

There’s just four rounds remaining in an enthralling VSDCA North-West group season.

The battle for the top-six is fierce with up to eight teams battle for a finals finish.

In Round 11, Simon Lambert leads Hoppers Crossing to a vital win, while Brunswick and Spotswood bats fall agonisingly short of centuries.

Plenty Valley and Preston young guns impress and a Snowdogs all-rounder’s match-winning performance with bat and ball.

Simon Lambert during his time at St Albans. Picture: Andy Brownbill

LAMBERT LEADS HOPPERS BOUNCE BACK

Hoppers Crossing captain-coach Simon Lambert delivered a match-winning performance with the bat to guide his side to a 99-run win over Coburg. The Cats have now moved into the top-six, and have dropped just one game since round three. Lambert hit 95 runs off 93 deliveries as his side posted 6-273 from their 45 overs as Shijit Chandran (65 off 72) also posted a half-century. Coburg found themselves in early trouble at 5-38 and never appeared set to trouble the home side.

BULLANTS YOUNG GUN SAVES THE DAY

Preston’s 17-year-old rising star Ryley Bamford illustrated his potential with a match-winning performance against Yarraville on Saturday. Josh Hahnel played a lone hand for the Eagles, scoring 93 not out, as the home team was restricted to 6-165. Eyeing a quick chase, the Bullants were in early trouble as Greg Maratos, Vaib Deshpande, Shakeel Ahmad and Tom Ramage all departed early, falling to 4-48. Enter Bamford and Darcy Hunter. The pair combined for a 65-run partnership before Hunter departed for 30. Bamford then partnered with skipper Kyle Walsh (20 not out) to guide his team home. Bamford finished unbeaten on 62, a personal best at First XI level. The youngster was playing under-18s for Ivanhoe before Christmas but is quickly establishing himself in the Preston senior side.

TAYLORS LAKES SPOIL THE PARTY

Melton celebrated major milestones on Saturday with Brad Jones and Chris Hope playing their 200th and 150th First XI games respectively. But Taylors Lakes became party spoilers after claiming a comprehensive seven-wicket win. Hope posted 32, alongside Alex Kerr’s 44, to guide Meltons to 155 all out as Aamir Raza and Arafat Bhuiyan claimed three wickets apiece. Raza (62 off 97) and Nilan Fernando (66 not out off 87) eventually guided the run chase home.

BRUNSWICK, SPOTSWOOD STARS FALL NARROWLY SHORT

Spotswood claimed a six-wicket win against Brunswick but you have to feel a little for two batsman from either side. Brunswick opener Jackson Cooper posted 93 off 112 before he was dismissed by Lachlan McKenna to guide his side to 5-239, falling narrowly short of a well earned century. In return, Jarrod Martignago posted 92 off 110 before Matt Doric claimed his wicket in a successful Spotty run chase.

BATS YOUNGSTER, SKIPPER DOMINATE

Liam Mallia, Troy Haynes and captain Simon Black put Plenty Valley in the box seat with the bat and Black and Alvin Simon finished the job with the ball. The Bats claimed a 44-run victory over Strathmore at War Memorial Reserve on Saturday to continue their strong new year form. After being sent in, the hosts were in all sorts at 2-5 but Mallia (70) and Black (52) steadied the ship with a match-turning 130-run third-wicket stand. Haynes then piled on quick runs with a blazing 58 not out from just 35 balls, hitting four boundaries and four sixes, to help reach 5-233. In response, Strathmore made a strong start, reaching 0-40 but lost openers Isaac Dukic and Tom Goss in quick succession and momentum. Alvin Simon was the Bats’ best with the ball, finishing with 3-17, while Black (2-24) and Josh Hempel (2-39) were also important.

CLARK’S DAY OUT IN SNOWDOGS WIN

Peter Clark impressed with bat and ball on Saturday in St Bernard’s vital 62-run win over top-six rival Werribee. The Snowdogs gun top-scored with the bat, smashing 73 from 81 balls, before picking up key wickets with the ball and finishing with 2-29. Rory Collins (36), Jevon Kett (43) and Nish Perera (29) made important contributions as St Bernard’s posted 5-218 at Chirnside Park. In response, the Tigers were all out 156 with captain Tim O’Brien leading the way with 35. Aaron Smillie took 3-34 and Kyle Adams nabbed 2-29 as the Snowdogs leapt into third spot on the ladder.

SURI’S MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

All out 97 last week in an eight-wicket loss, Kew took out its anger on Williamstown on Saturday. Paceman Ross Suri stole the show with a destructive seven-wicket haul as the Blues skittled their VSDCA North-West rivals for just 63 at Victoria Park. A career-best 7-22 from nine overs set up Kew’s nine-wicket triumph. After losing opener Jack Stewart first ball of the innings, coach Seb Contos (34 not out) and Jack Carroll (23 not out) chased down the winning runs in 15.4 overs.

LADDER ONLY GETTING TIGHTER

While Spotswood is a clear front-runner the rest of the top-six positions are up for grabs in the run to the finals. With four matches remaining, second-placed Kew is only three points ahead of Hoppers Crossing in sixth. In turn, Hoppers are just seven points in front of Brunswick in eighth. Werribee remains in contention too, four points outside in seventh. Round 12’s two-day matches will see Altona face St Bernard’s, Preston host Hoppers Crossing, Spotswood battle Yarraville and Taylors Lakes take on Kew.