WITH just a handful of rounds to go, teams are jockeying for positions in the top four of their respective Diamond Valley Cricket Association (DVCA) competitions.
Whittlesea’s First XI had no answer to Eltham’s dominant total of 292, and lost by 117 runs.
Despite the best efforts of Lachlan Heaney and Isuru Jayasekara, who each top-scored with 30 runs apiece, the Eagles were unable to contain the bowling of Eltham’s Leigh Donaldson, who took 4/47, and Mannon Verma, who took 3/24, as the Wildcats delivered a body blow to the Eagles’ hopes of making the finals.
It was a much better day for Whittlesea’s Second XI, who rolled into Waterview Recreation Reserve and kept their own finals hopes alive, while delivering a blow to Mernda’s with a comfortable seven-wicket win.
With the ball, the Eagles were led supremely by Dulan Walakulu Arachchige, who took 3/23 off seven overs, while Chandika Hemachandra took 2/18.
Arosha Pigera provided a difficult time for the Mernda batsmen, conceding just nine runs from his six overs, which helped restrict Mernda to 7/128 off their 35 overs.
Jack Jerabek provided much of the drive when it was the Eagles’ turn to bat as he helped turn around a slow start, where they were 3/36, to eventually win by seven wickets.
Jerabek was able to nullify the Demons’ attack to finish retired not out on 52, while Arachchige finished off the job by finishing unbeaten on 35.
The result leaves Whittlesea in seventh position, but just half a game behind South Morang in fourth position, signifying how close the competition is.
Mash Shield saw Laurimar and Mernda complete victories to keep themselves in the frame for a spot in the finals.
Laurimar completed a dominant two-day affair against South Morang by recording a 124-run victory at Mill Park Lakes Reserve to maintain second position on the ladder.
The Power faced little resistance throughout the balance of the day, but Austin Welsh cleaned up the tail to bring a swift end to the Lions’ chase as they were bowled out for 114.
Welsh finished with 4/9 off just 7.3 overs, while Travis Baker also contributed heavily, taking 3/34 off 23 overs.
Meantime, Mernda survived a thriller at Cracknell Reserve against Panton Hill as they held on for a 22-run victory.
Maxwell Brook took advantage of the smaller dimensions in a chaotic run-chase for Panton Hill, scoring 131 off just 114 balls, and played a major part in a 151-run fourth-wicket stand in a phenomenal innings where he was dismissed on the final ball of the day, but the Redbacks weren’t quite able to chase down 343 runs, instead settling on 5/321.
Lachlan Taylor was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2/70 off 18 overs, while Stuart Wright also took multiple wickets, taking 2/82 off 19 overs.
The result leaves the Demons in second position as a result.
The DVCA’s fixture over the next fortnight sees a massive Mash Shield game between Laurimar and Mernda at Laurimar Recreational Reserve as both teams jostle for second position. Whittlesea’s First XI face an absolute must-win to keep their finals chances in check when they take on the Research Eltham Collegians this weekend, while their Second XI will host the North Eltham Wanderers at AF Walker Reserve.
