THERE were plenty of key results in the latest round of the Diamond Valley Cricket Association on Saturday.
Mernda’s Money Shield team is looking to continue the form which has made it instantly transform into a potential premiership threat at Waterview Reserve, needing a further 192 runs to take victory against Lower Plenty for the second day’s play next Saturday after skittling it for 195.
Stuart Wright was chief destroyer for the Demons, taking 4/43, while Michael Edwards took 3/28.
Laurimar will have a big chase on its hands next week on the shorter dimensions at Ben Frilay Oval as Hurstbridge took advantage of good batting conditions to post 6/266.
On a difficult day for bowling, Bailey Lawrenson performed well for the Power, taking 2/34, while Austin Welsh took 2/58.
South Morang’s match up with Thomastown is currently on the line at Main Street Reserve, with the Lions looking to defend 190, thanks to Ricky Lee’s 59 and Adam Huybers scoring 32 at the top of the order.
In response, Thomastown is 1/28, with Theiveekan Theivanesan taking the Lions’ sole wicket.
Meanwhile, Whittlesea had an excellent day in its first XI game, requiring a further 157 runs to take victory over Research Eltham Collegians.
Research Eltham was rolled for 169, with Nathan Heaney leading the way in taking 4/29.
In lower grade action, it was a mixed bag for the local teams.
Laurimar did not have a great day between its second and third XI teams and face a long Saturday after losing first innings in both games to Hurstbridge, 125 to 6/153, and Rivergum, 98 to 4/113, respectively. The Power will have plenty of work to do if they are to chase a reverse outright victory in both games.
In better news for the Power, the fourth XI took its sole win for the weekend, with Kane McKenna-Sexton’s 51 helping guide them to 7/130, before Michael Peters’ 4/14 helped ensure the Power held North Eltham Wanderers to 9/127. The fifth XI was no match for Rivergum, losing by 120 runs, 95 to 9/215.
South Morang had a great day in its lower grade action.
While the second XI looks in trouble as Riverside are 2/68 chasing the Lions’ 139, the third XI has put itself in a good spot to win after good bowling restricted Banyule to just two runs an over throughout the day, holding the Bears to 9/160.
Jack Hoar had the best performance of the day as South Morang shrugged off getting bowled out for 110, holding Research Eltham Collegians to just 33. Hoar took 4/8, while Junior Sachdev had the best performance with the bat in tricky conditions to score 33.
There were also wins for the Lions’ fifth XI by 117 runs over Eltham, 4/248 to 131, while the sixth XI scored a 27-run win over Rivergum, 7/176 to 4/149.
Mernda requires 259 runs to take victory in its second XI match up with Diamond Creek, while the third XI provided a wild day, with 17 wickets falling as the Demons chase an outright victory over Dennis.
Rob Corrigan took 4/8 in the first innings as Dennis was all out for 45, before a whirlwind innings from Andrew Edwards saw the Demons post 4/160 in just 19 overs. In response, Dennis is 3/24, with Stephen Otter taking 2/6.
The Demons’ fifth XI lost to Lalor Stars, 7/193 to 4/241, while the sixth XI took a comfortable win over Eltham, 3/144 to 143, with Saurin Sandeep Sharma and Burzin Irani both posting 50s, while Damian Lewis took 3/35.
A pair of 50s also helped Whittlesea’s second XI take a comfortable win over Hurstbridge, 3/170 to 4/168, with Jack Jerabek scoring 51 and Lochaden Graham scoring 50, while Thomas Watt kept Hurstbridge’s run rate in check by taking 3/20.
Unfortunately, due to the wet Melbourne weather, the North Metro Cricket Association women’s competition was unable to go ahead on Sunday.
