VTCA: All the weekend’s big performers

There were drought breaking performances in the VTCA across the weekend as the race for finals heated up. See all the top performers from the weekend.

Aaron Arye of Deer Park. Picture: Andrew Batsch

Droughts were broken, by players and clubs, as the Victorian Turf Cricket Association season heated up with finals not far away.

Here are the key talking points from the latest round.

O’BRIEN HEROICS GETS TIGERS ON THE BOARD

Sunshine United is on the board in 2024-25, knocking off fourth-placed Airport West St Christophers to revive hopes of avoiding Senior Division relegation. Tim O’Brien was in everything for the Tigers. Batting at No.10, he top-scored with 42 not out, helping turn 7-81 into 196 all out. Buddika Algewatta (41) was equally important. O’Brien and Nalin Amarathunga then ripped through the Saints’ batting order. O’Brien finishing with 3-30 in a man-of-the-match performance, while Amarathunga finished with 4-13 from 6.1 overs. United’s first win of the season sees them move within six points of Aberfeldie and Westmeadows with two matches remaining with the Tigers travelling to Abers this weekend.

DORIC INSPIRES CLUBBERS IN OUTRIGHT

It looked like Yarraville Club had wrapped up a pretty standard six-wicket win at Hansen Reserve on Saturday, tracking down Aberfeldie’s 172 thanks to a 54 from Michael Hill. However, the Clubbers declared with a two-run lead and put Abers back in. Enter Matthew Doric. The former Essendon and Brunswick quick rolled through the visitors, snaring 5-26, while captain-coach Mitch Johnson picked up 4-21. Abers skittled for just 62. It gave Clubbers a shot at the outright and, needing just 60 runs, they got the job done in 10.5 overs. Thilina Masmulla led the way with 30 not out from 33 balls. In the end, Yarraville Club claimed a seven-wicket outright win to move to the top of the Senior Division ladder.

LIONS CLAIM BRAGGING RIGHTS

In the top-of-the-table clash between grand final rivals Deer Park and Sydenham-Hillside, it was the Lions that once again prevailed at John McLeod Reserve. Asked to bat first last week, the Storm posted 189 all out - Ishan Peiris scoring 54. The powerful Deer Park batting line-up made a shaky start, Aaron Shellie out at 1-4 and Hashan Wanasekera gone at 2-29. However, Daniel Sartori (45) and Aaron Ayre steadied the ship with a match-turning 102-run third-wicket partnership. Ayre would go on to finish 89 not out to lead his team to a four-wicket victory.

Deer Park captain Dean Russ. Picture: Andrew Batsch

CRAIGIEBURN IN FINALS FRAME

You would have got long odds for Craigieburn to make Senior Division finals this season but the Eagles are very much in the hunt with two games remaining. A 60-run win over Westmeadows sees the club move within six points of fourth-placed Airport West St Christophers. Nathan Pappin (76 and Adam Davies (61) propelled the visitors to 206 all out last week. The Eagles attack then went to work. Ben Radford jagged 4-56, while Dilum Weerarathna claimed 3-35. Suresh De Silva played a lone hand for Westmeadows with a valiant 60 not out.

SAINTS TOO POWERFUL

Charith Mendis’ first century since 2021-22 inspired St Albans to a thumping 174-run win over Keilor. Mendis smashed 121 from just 133 balls, blasting 10 boundaries and five sixes, in a match-winning display. Akila Isanka added 66 as the visitors posted 8-310 last week. Isanka then put his hand up for man-of-the-match honours with a 5-52 spell with the ball, while Arosh Janoda bagged 3-32. The hosts all out 136.

IMPERIALS CRUISE IN FINALS PREVIEW

Williamstown Imperials made light work of potential Division 2 finals rival Grand United at Parsons Reserve on Saturday. The ladder-leading Imperials claimed a six-wicket win over the third-placed Lions and remain undefeated on the season. Ryan Schaufler (3-20) and Jarrod Milczak (3-61) rolled through the Grand batting order, dismissing the hosts for 151 last week. In reply, Shane Jones was dominant, guiding his team to victory with 66 not out.

Jarrod Milczak. Picture: Andrew Batsch

KINGSTON, WATSON DOMINATE DERBY

Josh Kingston and Rhys Watson produced match-winning performances to help Newport-Digman claim the local derby over West Newport at Bryan Martyn Oval. Kingston scored a marvellous 110 not out from 142 deliveries on day one last week. Peter Simpson (45) provided key support as the Bulls made 288 all out. Then, on Saturday, Watson ripped through the West Newport batting order to claim impressive figures of 7-30 from 16 overs. The visitors were skittled for just 105 with Dan Laver playing a lone-hand, scoring 51. Newport-Digman hunted an outright win but the Lions narrowly survived, getting to stumps 7-69. The Bulls remain five points behind fourth-placed Maribyrnong Park St Mary’s.

SEDDON RECRUIT FIRES

Weligamage Bhanuka continued his brilliant season for Seddon with matchwinning figures of 5-74 off 22 overs in a crucial nine-run win over Doutta Stars. Ashley Hudson’s 69 guided the home side to 7-265 on day one with the visitors dismissed for 256. Bhanuka has taken more than four wickets in an innings on four occasions this season.

HIGGS IN FINE FORM

Moonee Valley young gun Mitchell Higgs is enjoying a fine run of form after his side’s back-to-back games against Point Cook. Higgs led the way with 3-19 as his side bowled the Warriors out for 98 on Saturday, to secure a 56-run win. He had taken two-for in the previous match between the two sides, which was a one-day game.

BELLBRIDGE ENDS ROYALS’ RUN

Bellbridge became the first team to get the better Division 4 ladder leader Melton South this season, prevailing by 22 runs. Away from home, Bellbridge posted 224 on day one and were able to hold on for the victory despite an unbeaten century from Andrew Hodgart. Andrew Wilks led the way with the ball taking 4-32.