Young guns: 40 leading players from the VMCU rep-cricket carnival

A list of the outstanding performers at the annual junior cricket carnival contested by local associations.

Archie Flynn of Ringwood District after his 60 retired in the Under 14 Russell Allen Shield grand final.

There were big runs and bags of wickets at the Victorian Metropolitan Cricket Union carnival that wrapped up with grand finals on Sunday.

Here are 40 of the leading performers.

BATTING

Jesse Lynn, Ringwood District: opened the batting in the Under 18 Phil Arnold Shield and hit 201 runs at 33.5, with a highest score of 67 against North West Metropolitan. Is playing for the Mazenold Old Collegians Under 17 team this season and has peeled off 295 runs without being dismissed.

Odil Perera, Inner South East: like Lynn, came in with 201 runs at 33.5 in the Phil Arnold Shield. Hit a valuable 49 in the grand final as his side overcame Western Region. Perera is at Premier club Casey South Melbourne.

Atharv Deshpande, Eastern: the opening batsman topped the run chart in the Under 16 Jim Beitzel Shield, crafting 242 runs at 48.4, with three half-centuries. Also chipped in with nine wickets. Like Perera, is developing in the lower grades at Casey South Melbourne.

Aiman Nadeem, Western Region: an unbeaten, even 100 off 111 deliveries against North West Metropolitan highlighted Nadeem’s carnival and lifted him to 205 runs at 51.3. Has made some handy scores for Premier club Footscray’s Fourth XI this season.

South East’s Henry Pearson with his match award.

Henry Pearson, South East: the stylish left-hander was player of the match in the Under 16 Jim Beitzel Shield grand final after cracking 83 not out against Inner South East. It took the son of former English County cricketer Richard Pearson past the 200-run mark for the carnival: he came in with 203 at 50.8. Pearson is playing under champion batsman Ricky Damiano in a strong Brighton First XI in Subbies, and is in Victorian under-age squads.

Riley Foley, Ringwood District: Foley, an Under 16 player with Wonga Park, had a dazzling time of it with the bat in the Ketih Mackay Shield. Retired on 100 against the other Ringwood District team and hit three half-centuries – 53, 78 and 64 – to finish with 361 runs at 51.6.

Alex Kerr, Western Region: scored runs consistently from the No 3 position, counting three half-centuries (74, 54 and 55) in an aggregate of 254 runs at 36.3. Is coming through the ranks at Subbies club Melton.

Harsahib Singh, North West Metropolitan: opened the series with scores of 8 and 0, but blitzed 100 retired off 98 balls against Inner South East in Round 3, followed up with hands of 60 and 43, and had a final tally of 211 runs at 52.8.

Archie Flynn, Ringwood District: the son of Premier Cricket stalwart Sean Flynn headed the Under 14 Russell Allen Shield run list with 238 runs at 59.5. He finished the series with the flourish of 60 retired off 69 deliveries in the grand final against Western Region and was judged man of the match. Archie played in the Fourth XI for Premier club Ringwood last Saturday and shared a 100-run opening partnership with Zac Grech.

Alexander Mowat, Western Region: the middle-order batsman did something in every match, racking up 204 runs at 40.8; his highest score was 48 and his lowest 21. He’s developing his batting at Subbies club Yarraville.

Lachlie Quinn, Ringwood District: the No 3 missed out once with the bat as he totted up 202 runs at 50.5 for a title-winning team. Hit 36 in the grand final against Western Region. Has linked with Bayswater in the Subbies.

Luke Gilham, North West Metropolitan: hit the most runs in the Under 14 Des Nolan Cup, three times reaching the retirement score of 60 and stacking up 295 runs at 59. Was also handy with the ball, taking seven wickets.

Elken Croydon, Ringwood District: the opener had three 50-plus scores – and a highest of 78 not out – in a total of 252 runs at 63.0. Elken is playing junior and senior cricket with Seville.

Kenul Edirisinghe.

Kenul Edirisinghe, Inner South East: only Luke Gilham and Elken Croydon scored more runs in the Des Nolan Cup than the Mt Waverley junior. Contributed 226 at 56.5, with a highest score of 58 not out, and was judged best player of the Des Nolan competition.

Jack Massey, Eastern: topped the aggregate in the Under 12 Keith Mitchell Shield with 250 at 62.5, and saved his best innings for the grand final against South East: 44 not out off 42 balls. Jack is a junior at Mont Albert Cricket Club.

Ruppatz Kharoud, Diamond Valley: 226 runs at 45.2 represented a fine carnival for Ruppatz, who is playing juniors for Glenroy and Epping teams this season.

Ahmed Raza.

Ahmed Raza, Diamond Valley: the stylish little left-hander who gained some prominence for a video of him batting at home crafted 221 runs at 73.7, setting off with scores of 32no, 56no, 37no and 35no. He also nabbed 10 wickets at 11 with his leg-spinners; he had an outstanding series.

Yuvraj Sharma, Western Region: wow. The middle-order batsman led allcomers in the VMCU with a remarkable 414 runs at an average of 207. His scores were 45, 44, 36, 34, 45, 59no, 70no and 81 retired in the grand final: little wonder his team won the title. Yuvraj plays for Werribee Juniors. “He’s a very powerful left-hander and mature well beyond his years in the way he bats and controls the innings,’’ Western Region coach Jack Hale said. “Technically, he’s very sound for an 11-year-old. I’m sure we’re going to see a lot more of this kid at rep-cricket level and beyond as he gets older.’’

George Lyons, Ringwood District: led his team’s batting with 273 runs at 136.5, retiring in three of his five knocks. There were scores of 71 no and 64 retired (twice) for the Hoddles Creek youngster.

Amanpreet Kaur, Western Region: made runs every time she went to the creases in the Under 18 Cathryn Fitzpatrick Shield, scoring 46, 53no, 45, 34, 43no and 27: 248 runs at 62. Is coming along at Essendon Maribyrnong Park in Premier ranks.

Tahlia Meier, Ferntree Gully/Eastern: a Vic Country representative at last season’s Under 18 national championships, Meier set the standard for a combined team with 220 runs at 73.3, including three half-centuries. She’s making her way at Premier level this season with Box Hill.

Evie Stansby, Inner South East: finished with an average of 205 after being dismissed once during the carnival. Stansby is an emerging Premier player at Dandenong.

Isabel White, Ferntree Gully/Eastern: like Tahlia Meier a player blossoming at Box Hill, White got away in four of her five hands, coming in with 200 runs at 66.7.

Uvindee Wijesena, Inner South East: the Dandenong Premier prospect had an encouraging tournie, putting away 198 runs at 63.7, as well as chipping in with seven wickets with her offies. Will play for Dandy in the Cricket Victoria Under 18 Girls exhibition series starting this weekend.

Katherine Dekel, Inner South East: led the run list in the Under 16 Mel Jones Shield with 267 at 66.8, with three half-centuries and a highest score of 77 not out. Another youngster linked with Premier club Box Hill.

Mia Gouws, Inner South East: Mia provided one of the highlights of female cricket in the VMCU tournament with her innings of 99 not out off 101 balls from the opening slot against Diamond Valley. Two days later she hit 61 retired against Western Region. Her 246 runs were made at an average of 49.2. A promising player with Ringwood in Premier Cricket.

Georgia Egan, North West Metropolitan: was on the heels of Katherine Dekel and Mia Gouws with her 241 runs at 40.2. Played for Melbourne Stars in the YPL Under 14 Super Series last season.

Alexandra Sheedy, Ringwood District: clipped 214 runs at 42.8 for a team that won the title. Her teammates Tegan Rule (193 runs) and Hayley McLaughlin (173) batted well too.

Mia Gordon with Molly Strano ahead of her EMP debut.

Mia Gordon, Western Region: was the girl with the golden bat in the Under 14 Julie Savage Shield, stacking up 401 runs at 401. The right-hander had scores of 96no, 79 retired, 68no and 52no. At Premier level she started the season in the EMP Thirds but last Saturday she was called up for a First XI debut. “She has a solid technique and is quite focused in all that she does,’’ EMP coaching co-ordinator Neil Gray said. “She’s a bit of a sponge and really easy to coach because she asks a lot of questions.’’

Amelia O’Meara, South East: led the batting for a team that won the Under 14 title, cracking 261 runs at 261. Played for the Melbourne Second XI last Sunday.

Amelia O'Meara (left) with South east teammate Mikayla Collins.

Sunny Plant, Box Hill Reporter: was dismissed only twice and made 230 runs at 115, with two half-centuries. Has been in the runs for Koonung Heights juniors too.

Pearl Kapoor, Western Region: went through the Under 12 Claude Fatone Shield without being dismissed as she accumulated 168 runs.

Lily Parker, Box Hill Reporter: had a top score of 60 not out in a carnival that brought her 148 runs at 148.

BOWLING

Yuvraj Singh, Western Region: the off-spinner nabbed 15 wickets at 7.9 to help his team reach the grand final of the Under 18 Phil Arnold Shield.

Saksham Kapoor, Inner South East: with 15 wickets at 8.1 was a strong contributor to the ISEC side that won the Phil Arnold Shield. Captured 5-18 off eight overs against South East. Bowls left-arm wrist spin and has variety.

Zac Cahill, Ringwood District: carried the attack for his team in the Under 16 Keith Mackay Shield, claiming 14 wickets at 15.1. Opened the series with a haul of 5-19 off nine overs against Western Region.

Cohen Croft, Ringwood District: included a bag of 6-8 off nine overs in his return of 13 wickets at 14.2 in Mackay Shield.

Callum Power, Ringwood District: took at least two wickets in each of his seven matches on the way to a final tally of 16 scalps at 11.6 in the Under 15 Russell Allen Shield.

Hayley McLaughlin, Ringwood District: the emerging all-rounder was part of a strong attack and had 12 wickets at only 5.3. Teammates Keely Miutescu, Holly Gray, Lily Osborn and Rosemary Sykes bowled well too.

Lily Pelosi, North West Metrpolitan: set herself up for a good series by jagging 5-23 off 6.2 overs against Ringwood District in Round 1, and ended up with 12 wickets at 12.8.

Aanya Jaswal, South East: headed the wicket count with 10 at 4.8 in the Under 12 Claudia Fatone Shield. She’s handy with the bat too: she scored 47 not out in the grand final.