THE Diamond Valley Cricket Association (DVCA) had their final day of the 2024/25 season on the weekend, earning some memorable results.
Mernda will be readmitted into Money Shield for the 2025/26 season, making a return to the competition after two seasons with a 62-run victory over minor premier Rivergum at Kelynack Recreation Reserve.
While the Burra were fairly dominant throughout the season, they had not been able to defeat Mernda in their two meetings, and following the first day of play last Saturday, would have been confident they could finally get over that hump after restricting the Demons to 143 runs.
However, it was a confident Demons outfit which took to the field on Saturday, and it was their bowling attack which again put together a significant performance.
In particular, it was Lachie Taylor who cemented his status as player of the finals, opening the bowling with devastating effect alongside strike partner Michael Edwards.
Taylor removed Matthew Kiely, Sean Neary, and Gary Bell in the early stages of the game while Edwards was also taking big wickets, with the significant scalp of Paul Unkles, captain Matthew Perri, and Jarrod Bannister leaving Rivergum in all sorts at 6/41.
The Burra did what they could to fight back, with the tail wagging somewhat, but it was a lost cause for the minor premier, who had their previously strong batting desert them on the biggest stage.
James Baker helped clean up the tail with two late wickets, while Taylor fittingly claimed a fourth wicket to help seal victory for the Demons, who bowled Rivergum out for 81.
Taylor’s exploits saw him bowl 25 frenetic overs, bowling 16 maidens and taking figures of 4/23, claiming the best on ground medal.
Alongside him, Edwards took 3/20 off 13 overs, while Baker claimed 2/5 off 5.1.
In the D grade decider, South Morang’s Second XI needed a further 97 runs to claim the premiership, starting the day at 2/22, requiring 118 at Yulong Reserve.
But it was the Bulls who put together a remarkable performance, requiring two bowlers to get the job done across the 46 overs they bowled.
Vice-captain Lachlan Gatherer top scored for the Lions with 16, but it was the middle order who were unable to sustain their wickets as Bundoora’s Vikas Sindhu ran riot.
Sindhu finished with figures of 6/55 off his 23 overs, while Stuart Adams finished with 4/27 off 23.1 overs as the Bulls claimed the premiership by bowling the Lions out for 94.
There was better news for South Morang’s Third XI, who were the only team in the DVCA to bat second throughout the weekend to take the premiership on their home deck, winning by five wickets over Dennis.
Resuming at 1/25, it was Brodie Slater and Toby Lafford who controlled the pace of play for the Lions throughout the start of the day, with Slater scoring quickly, while Lafford was patient and proved to be an anchor.
Slater would make 30 runs off 40 deliveries before he was dismissed, and while the Lions had a little wobble to find themselves 5/74 with another 48 runs still to get, they were able to get the stability they needed.
It was Nick Tsimiklis who provided the partnership alongside Lafford to help get the Lions home, scoring 29 off 68 balls, while Lafford showed remarkable patience in scoring his 36 runs off 179 deliveries.
