By Russell Bennett
THE West Gippsland Cricket Association has finished its Victorian Metropolitan Cricket Union (VMCU) Under 21 Neil Wright Shield campaign in style, overcoming South East Bayside at Princes Park in Caulfield South on Sunday.
But the powerhouse Dandenong District Cricket Association (DDCA) side stole the show, advancing to the tournament’s semi-final stage with victory over Box Hill.
Playing in their final game of the Under 21 showcase on Sunday, West Gippsland amassed 205 before being dismissed with four overs left of their innings.
Skipper and Pakenham Premier all-rounder Zac Chaplin was again a shining light with the bat with his 41 from the top order, while Cardinia’s Brody Pearse was particularly impressive with a hard-hitting 62 opening the innings.
Some valuable lower-order hitting – led by Chaplin’s Pakenham club-mate Jack Melbourne (32 not out) – took the visitors’ total above 200, but it was with the ball that the Warriors really shone.
In a performance that clearly would have impressed their coach – local seam bowling legend Greg Bethune – Cardinia spinner Travis Wheller (2/31); Seagull trio Tim Lenders (2/1), Kade Burns (2/50 from 8 overs), and Matt Welsh (1/34); and Melbourne (1/23 from 7) were outstanding as a bowling unit playing on a ground with one of the quickest outfields they’ll ever experience.
Almost any ball that breached the inner ring of fielders ran all the way to the fence – forcing the Warriors to be super tight with their line and length.
To the South East’s dismay, six of their wickets fell leg-before – showing just how full and straight the visitors were bowling.
The DDCA side, meanwhile, remains undefeated with their win over Box Hill at Rowley Allen Reserve in Keysborough.
The home side elected to bat, with a series of starts by Liam Hamilton (38) from Springvale South, Darcy Hellriegel (36) from Buckley Ridges, Rob Peat (28) from St Mary’s, Jakob Woinarski (25) from Mordialloc and skipper Jordan Hammond (25) from Hallam-Kalora Park lifting them to 8/178 off their 40 overs.
With the ball, the DDCA was well served by Josh Dowling from Narre North, who bowled a fine spell to finish with 4/13. The Box Hill DCA finished on 7/172 – seven runs short of victory.
After finishing second on the ladder, the DDCA will tackle Ringwood District in the semi-finals on 15 January.
