IT’S grand final time for the Diamond Valley Cricket Association, with plenty of local teams still in the mix.
Mernda’s terrific first season back in Money Shield came to an end in the semi final against Eltham, losing by seven wickets.
The Demons never quite got a start on Saturday, with the game ending inside one day.
Stuart Wright top scored with 21, while Ryan Marnell fought hard by scoring 17, but Eltham’s pressure bowling was just too much, with the Demons rolled for 81.
Michael Edwards gave the Demons a little bit of hope by taking 2/24, but it was Eltham’s day as it cruised to the target in just 27 overs, scoring 3/83, and progressing to a meeting with Lower Plenty next week.
There was better news for Whittlesea, however, who turned around a last round defeat to Macleod and crushed its opponents across the weekend.
Batting first on Saturday, the Eagles took advantage of good batting conditions, first through Nathan Heaney who anchored the top order with 42, before Lathindu Kandage showcased his immense talent once again with a glorious 93, including eight fours and six sixes.
That allowed the Eagles to make 240, before their bowling lineup did the rest on Sunday.
Kevin Satharasinghege Don took 3/17, while Heaney took 2/7 in what was a dominant performance, with Macleod bowled out for 71.
The Eagles now progress to a grand final date against Banyule, who chased down minor premier Rivergum.
Mernda’s second XI was no match for Riverside, losing by eight wickets.
The top order gave the Demons a solid enough start, with Abhi Patel scoring 21 and Lucas Long 20, but a middle order collapse saw the Demons behind the eight ball.
Geordi Summers added 17 to help get the Demons over 100, but they were bowled out for 111.
Riverside was simply too good when the two teams reconvened on Sunday, needing 50 overs to make the required total, finishing on 2/112.
There was better news for the Demons in E grade, winning through to a grand final courtesy of a 110-run win over South Morang.
Batting first, the Demons utilised a strong top order showing, with Rob Virtue scoring 70, Andrew Edwards adding 49 and Rob Corrigan 31.
Late hitting from David Taylor (27) and Stephen Otter (21) allowed the Demons to make 9/241.
For the Lions, Kane Slater (2/25), Ansh Vara (2/26) and Darcy McLean (2/27) all took multiple wickets.
The Lions did what they could on Sunday to make inroads on the total, with Vara scoring 25 and Atinder Singh 20, while Joe Lovalvo added 25, but it was Charlie Andrews who tore through the Lions’ batting lineup, taking 5/36 to ensure South Morang would be bowled out for 131.
The Demons were no match for Montmorency in the F2 grade semi final.
Only Josh Brady (25) and Mohid Ashraf (23) could make inroads against the Magpies’ bowling attack as Mernda was bowled out for 67 in just 44 overs.
Montmorency then needed only 26 overs to seal the contest within a day, finishing on 2/70.
Mernda’s G3 grade could not take advantage of its minor premiership, bundled out in straight sets.
On Saturday, the Demons hosted their qualifying final against Diamond Creek but came up short with both bat and ball.
Diamond Creek scored 6/268 in 35 overs of big hitting, with Ayaan Kakkar the only Demon to take multiple wickets, finishing with 2/37.
The Demons could not recover from starting 2/1 with the bat, with only Nitin Kakkar scoring well with 44 runs, as they were bundled out for 90.
Backing up on Sunday, the Demons ran into a red-hot Thomastown team who put on 8/196 batting first.
Again, it was Ayaan who bowled well to take 2/18, while Tej Pal Singh came on late and took 2/7 off his sole over.
Once Mernda batted, the Demons again fell into trouble straight away and couldn’t respond when needed.
Nitin top-scored again with 12, but the Demons were rolled for 70 in 24 overs.