THE Diamond Valley Cricket Association season is underway, with a host of upset results, impressive batting and excellent line and length bowling kickstarting the summer of cricket.
Mernda took a headline-grabbing victory in its first Money Shield game against Greensborough, staking its claim as a team to watch with a 136-run victory at Waterview Reserve.
The Demons’ only setback was losing Stuart Wright on the opening ball of the innings, but with Alex Mitris’ 25 and new recruit Gareth Sharp’s 24, the Demons were set on the right track.
Max Russell’s unbeaten 56 and Nathan Aston’s 36 helped the Demons further, but it was a late cameo from Michael Edwards which helped push the score towards 200, scoring 36 off just 18 balls in a swashbuckling innings, with Mernda finishing on 5/196.
Edwards then showed he will again be a key bowler for the Demons in the opening spell of the Greensborough innings, taking two critical wickets early to leave the Boro on 2/7, before a good spell of bowling from Nathan Aston, and great teamwork in the field with two runouts accounted for Greensborough’s middle order.
Greensborough would get rolled for 60, with Edwards starring with 4/2 off just 4.4 overs, which included three maidens. Aston took 2/19 off four overs.
In Mash Shield, Laurimar recovered from a slow start to eventually wear down South Morang, winning by six wickets at Laurimar Reserve.
South Morang leader Karl Heckmann did much of the damage in the early stages of the game, accounting for a large majority of the Lions’ 70-run opening wicket partnership with Brad Riley, before Austin Welsh and Joel Regan helped change the course of the game for the Power.
The Lions would lose 3/5 and save for a short burst of runs from Lachlan Gatherer, Seyon Uruththiran and Blair Cass, the Lions also lost wickets at a frequent rate to be all out for 158.
Laurimar captain Luke Richardson would bowl exceptionally well from his seven overs, taking 3/8, while Regan was also in among the wickets, taking 3/28 off seven overs.
Power opener Jonathon McAleer wasn’t wasting any time when they went out to bat, scoring 53 runs off 27 balls.
Laurimar did have a wobble when it lost 3/1 midway through the innings, but it was the work of patient young batsman Cooper Lawrenson and Christopher Milne who helped take Laurimar home, with Lawrenson scoring 48 and Milne 37, winning with nine overs to spare.
Mernda had a thrilling victory in its B grade clash against Heidelberg at Warringal Park.
The patient Robert Turnbull scored 52, while Ryan Marnell added 43 as Mernda finished on 6/152 from its 40 overs.
The Demons then survived a late fightback from Heidelberg to hold on by three runs, with Heidelberg scoring 8/149.
Marnell took 3/26, while Benjamin Jukes finished with 2/16 off eight overs.
Mernda’s only blemish for the weekend was its five-wicket loss to Lower Eltham in its E grade clash.
The Demons made 9/159 off its 40 overs, with Jack Sheahan providing entertainment in a run-a-ball 42, while Rob Corrigan was patient at the other end, scoring 37.
Despite some good bowling from Geordi Summers, who took 2/22 off seven overs with three maidens, the Demons were no match for Lower Eltham, who completed the chase with nine overs to spare.
South Morang were unable to stop Eltham from taking a thrilling one-wicket win at Mill Park Lakes Reserve in its C grade clash.
Paul Martin’s 59 and Rohin Sidhu’s unbeaten 69 helped anchor the Lions’ innings as they finished on 5/221, but Eltham proved up to the task in its run chase, catching the target with three balls to spare.
Manoj Devedi took 3/36, while Darcy Kay finished with 2/44.
South Morang’s E grade clash with Dennis was yet to be updated at the time of production, with the Lions having to chase Dennis’ 5/128.
An incredible effort from youngster Cooper Lewin helped guide Laurimar to a D grade victory in its clash with Montmorency at Central Park.
Aaron Dickson was the anchor at the top of the order for the Power, scoring 62, while Jaxon Kueffer added 28 and Harrison Rodda 20, with Laurimar making 9/185 off its 40 overs.
However, it was 14-year-old Lewin who stole the show in Montmorency’s innings, making every post a winner.
Lewin took a hattrick in among his 6/22 off five overs, showcasing his potential as he helped weave webs around Montmorency’s middle order.
Only a late 42-run partnership allowed the Magpies to score above 100 as they finished all out for 120.
Alongside Lewin’s heroics, Thomas McCumber took 2/28.
