THE Seymour District Cricket Association (SDCA) has returned to senior representative cricket in style, headlining a memorable weekend for the league with a 56-run win over Emu Valley.
The match was the first iteration of the McIvor Challenge held at Seymour’s Chittick Park, and the SDCA was determined to get its hand on the plaque for the first time.
A star-studded team helped get the SDCA off to a flyer, particularly as Charles Davies’ 39 and Josh Rudge’s 28 ensured the SDCA would have 60 runs on the board in the first 10 overs.
However, the party truly began when Tallarook’s Lachlan Watts came to the crease.
Watts was dominant on the wider expanses of Chittick Park, scoring 14 4s and a six as he took the game away from Emu Valley.
Unfortunately, he was dismissed on 99, but it was a remarkable effort to help the SDCA score 7/227 off its 45 overs.
The men in green and yellow were determined to ensure the McIvor Challenge was theirs, with Blake Munari-O’Dwyer taking two quick wickets to put the SDCA on top.
Watts then ensured he would be a clear man of the match by taking the game away with the ball, with his 4/40 off nine overs helping dismiss Emu Valley for 171, meaning it was a 56-run win to the SDCA.
The clash was the completion of a good weekend for the competition, with plenty of standout individual performances.
In A grade, Seymour took a comprehensive 105-run win at Avenel.
Cameron Evans was the hero for the Mores, scoring 104 off 127 deliveries, while Jason Brown added 74 at the top of the order as Seymour made 5/245 off its 45 overs.
It was an even team performance with the ball, with captain Braidon Horkings taking 3/11, while Lachlan Drummond took 3/34 as Avenel was bowled out for 140 in response.
Tallarook remains on top of the ladder following a comprehensive nine-wicket win over Pyalong at Pyalong Recreation Reserve.
Pyalong struggled to get into its groove as the men in red and blue kept the run rate to a minimum, restricting Pyalong to 8/111 off its 45 overs.
Ben Trezise was precise with his bowling, taking 4/19 off nine overs.
In response, Leigh Irving scored 58 and Rudge 45 as Tallarook chased down the target in 22.2 overs.
Elsewhere, Yea took a comfortable nine-wicket win over Alexandra.
In B grade, Seymour fell short in a thriller, losing by seven runs to Avenel at Chittick Park.
Thomas Eccles took 3/19, Jack Glen 2/15 and Jye Richmann 2/25 as Avenel set 139 to win, and Glen scored 27 at the top of the order to give Seymour a start.
However, from 1/59, the Mores lost 7/12 to fall into desperate trouble.
Despite Janaka Abeywardane’s 40, Seymour fell for 131, just short of the target.
Tallarook took a four-wicket win over Pyalong at Tallarook.
Batting first, Pyalong was well-served by Paul Dugard, who made 49, but Sam Watts reeled Pyalong back in from 2/112, taking 4/24 off nine overs.
Pyalong made 7/138 off its 45 overs, and despite Peter Reynolds taking three early wickets, the combination of Braeden Dundon (61) and Pasquale Schipano (51) ensured Tallarook always had the upper hand, making 6/140.
Reynolds took 3/36 for Pyalong in defeat.
Alexandra was much too strong for Yea, winning by 169 runs.
