VSDCA wrap: Hat-trick, last-wicket stand get Moorabbin home in thriller

A sensational hat-trick and a gritty last-wicket stand had Moorabbin celebrating, while Hoppers Crossing had Port Melbourne reeling at 4-6 and a Malvern batter went big.

Damsara Menuwara bowling for Moorabbin. Picture: Valeriu Campan

A hat-trick by Moorabbin skipper Damsara Menuwara and a gritty last-wicket partnership helped the Saints to a gripping win over Melton in VSDCA south-west section on Sunday.

Menuwara removed Ben MacRae (27), Will Chesterman (0) and Simon Blanks (0) in successive balls in the 29th over as Melton crashed from 2-76 to 5-76, before posting 135.

Menuwara took 4-40, and is up to 25 scalps for the season, while Thomas Simmons (4-46) and Navdeep Singh (2-42) also bowled well.

In reply, Moorabbin was wobbling at 9-102 when Navdeep Singh was joined by No. 11 Dulaj Jayakody and together they shared a 34-run unbroken stand to drag the Saints over the line in the 57th over, with Jayakody (8no off 43 balls) hitting the winning runs with a three. Singh finished unbeaten on 25 off 97 balls. It was Moorabbin’s second win of the season.

Round 13 action was a Saturday-Sunday two-dayer.

CATS FLATTEN PORT

Hoppers Crossing’s in-form paceman Harshit Takkar took three wickets in five balls to send Port Melbourne crashing to 4-6 in a spectacular start at Hogans Rd. Takkar, coming off a five-wicket haul the previous match, finished with 4-24 as Port Melbourne was dismissed for 153. Port opener Ruairidh Main showed fight to make a classy 90. In reply, Hoppers Crossing rushed to 200 in 47.4 overs, with skipper Simon Lambert making 54 and Shijit Chandran Poovathingal 63. For Port, Nick Sharpin (5-64) and Muhammad Arslan Khan (4-51) combined well. Batting again, Port Melbourne was 5-123 when players shook hands. The win, Hoppers Crossing’s third in a row, cemented second spot for the Cats.

Adam Yates of Altona was in mint form. Picture: Hamish Blair

ALTONA MAKES IT FIVE ON THE SPIN

Altona maintained its place in the top six, and put a dent in Taylors Lakes’ own finals hopes, courtesy of a seven-wicket win. The Lions were bowled out for 129 as Adam Yates led the way with 3-27. Yates then guided the run chase home beautifully with an unbeaten 49 off 109 deliveries. Altona has now won five straight games and sit in fifth position.

DAN THE MAN IN SPOTTY WIN

Spotswood kept the pressure on in its race for the top six with a two-run win over Werribee as coach Dan Schuppan grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck. Schuppan scored 26 off 63, as Spotty posted 119 in their first innings in tough conditions before turning match-winner with the ball. He finished with figures of 6-44, the second time he has taken six-for this season, as the Tigers were all out for 117. Mitch Cullen also deserves credit for his performance for Werribee after taking 6-35 in the first innings.

CLINICAL CAULFIELD

Caulfield consolidated sixth spot with a rousing 17-run win over Elsternwick. After putting up 169, with James Crosthwaite making 54, the Fielders dismissed Elsty for 152 in the 51st over, with seamer Madhur Ghai (4-36) and spinner Samer Haque (4-10) doing the damage. Caulfield wicketkeeper James Small took a sharp catch up to the stumps to Ghai, and Joshua Agar took a diving catch. Lincoln Edwards (42) and Zachariah Grundmann (29) did best with the bat for Elsternwick, while Elsty’s Jack Phillips took 5-34 and Jacob Kerr 4-31.

ANOTHER TON FOR TAYLOR

Malvern opener Nick Taylor peeled off his second unbeaten century of the summer in his side’s rain-impacted draw with Williamstown. Taylor made 134no off 211 balls, with 14 boundaries, as the Roosters put up 4-231. In reply, Willy was 5-216, with Cameron D’Altera (63), Matthew Dervan (58no) and Antone Harb (49) impressing. Taylor has made 543 runs at 67.8 this season.

WASH OUTS

Brighton’s game against Oakleigh was called off while Yarraville’s trip to Ormond saw only the home side’s innings completed.