A BIG weekend for cricketers saw the runs flowing across the Diamond Valley Cricket Association.
In Money Shield, Mernda face a big task to defend 128 runs against Research Eltham, leading by just 85 runs at the close of play.
The Demons struggled greatly on their home deck at Waterview Recreation Reserve, with only Ryan Marnell (30 runs) and Max Russell (25) scoring over 20 runs as the Demons was dismissed for 128.
Stuart Wright delivered a breakthrough before stumps, but Research Eltham got through to 1/43.
There was better news for Laurimar in Mash Shield, however, with youngster Noah Key delivering a memorable maiden century to help the Power take full command against Dennis.
Key had not hit a 50 before this game, but his patience was rewarded strongly as he hit nine fours and delivered 106 runs to help the Power sit pretty at 3/266, with great support from fellow young gun Justin Billing, who scored 72, and Rian Boddy, who remained unbeaten on 64.
It was a day for the bowlers at Chelsworth Park South, with South Morang holding on to a 95-run lead over Old Ivanhoe Grammarians with five wickets to get.
The Lions batted first and had a solid base to build from, with Adam Huybers scoring 20, Karl Heckmann adding 24 and Lachlan Gatherer scoring 42, but Old Ivanhoe did well to get back into the game by bowling the Lions out for 158.
It was the work of Theiveekan Theivanesan who helped the Lions with the ball, however, as he proved hard to get away for the Old Ivanhoe batters.
Theivanesan took 3/10 off nine overs, with four maidens, and will be hoping to continue his good work to ensure the Lions score a much-needed victory.
Whittlesea’s first XI will need a further 179 runs to win on the second day of proceedings at Laurimar Town Park.
Batting first, Laurimar needed the middle order runs of Harry McKeown (49 runs) and Dan Demiris (31), as well as the tail wagging through Damian Palladino (20) and Ben Demicoli (20) to get to 183.
Nathan Heaney was all over the middle and tail for the Eagles and was rewarded with figures of 6/49 off 16.2 overs in a supreme performance, while Kevin Satharasinghege Don took 2/24.
Whittlesea was 0/5 at stumps.
Elsewhere, a consistent run from Mernda’s B grade team saw it make 277 against Research Eltham.
Jarmyn Marshall ensured the tail wagged with 59 runs, while Andy Evans added 48 to leave the Demons in a reasonable spot, with Research Eltham still trailing by 264 runs at stumps.
In C grade, a memorable innings from Rohin Sidhu ensured South Morang would be in an excellent position at stumps, racking up 6/392 against Macleod.
Sidhu scored 161 runs to leave the Lions well and truly in command, and was supported well by Darcy McLean (70), Matthew Kiriakopoulos (56) and Adwait Vaidya (50).
Similarly, David Sinclair scored another 100 to leave Laurimar’s D grade team with a defendable total against North Eltham.
Sinclair was a key figure for the Power, scoring 103 of the Power’s 184 runs in what is his third century of the season.
Mernda go into day two of its E grade game against Thomastown United having already secured first innings points by 10 wickets.
The bowling was too much for the Burra, with Rob Corrigan taking 3/18 to lead all bowlers for the Demons, while Kyle Reece (3/19) and Geordi Summers (2/16) also contributed strongly.
South Morang and Mernda will both have big targets to chase on day two in the F2 grade.
South Morang travelled to Riverside, who made 8/258 in its first innings.
The Lions did have their opponents 5/115 at one stage, before the tail wagged. However, Anirudha Das took 3/31, while Jack Tsimiklis (2/24) and Brody Kay (2/34) also took multiple wickets.
Meantime, Mernda requires a further 287 runs to defeat Hurstbridge.
The Bridges made 288 runs, with Stephen Otter toiling away to take 3/67, while Mohid Ashraf (2/28) and Tejus Pathak (2/61) also got in on the action.
Mernda was no match for North Eltham in its G1 West clash.
The Demons batted first, with Connor Kingston-Lee the only Demon to make inroads, remaining unbeaten on 18 as the Demons were bowled out for 109.
North Eltham chased down the target comfortably to win by nine wickets.
Similarly, Laurimar was no match for Dennis, losing by 120 runs.
Dennis made 9/201 off its 35 overs, with Daniel Wigney taking 3/16 and Jack Cordwell 3/51 the only two to succeed with the ball for Laurimar.
Reece Emmins (30) and Tyson Aldenhoven (19) were the only two to make inroads with the bat, with Laurimar 9/81 from its 35 overs.
In G2 grade, South Morang was comfortable in taking victory by nine wickets over Bundoora.
Pirasath Vasanthanathan was in top form for the Lions, taking 3/15, while Raj Koppula (2/23) and Tony King (2/31) also did well with the ball to help restrict Bundoora to 116.
The Lions chased down the target comfortably to win by nine wickets, scoring 1/121.
Laurimar lost by 155 runs to Diamond Creek.
Despite Simon Thompson’s best efforts, taking 5/38, the Power was unable to stop Diamond Creek from scoring 9/281, before they were dismissed for 126 in response.
Ben Brown’s 28 led the way for the Power.
In G3, South Morang lost a low-scoring game to Greensborough by 12 runs.
The Lions looked in good shape when they held the Boro to 8/111, with Kriday Devedi taking 4/18, while Archer Perry took 2/15.
However, despite Darren Slater’s 34, the Lions struggled, before they were dismissed for 99.
Similarly, Whittlesea was unable to get the points against Diamond Creek.
Batting first, the Demons made 169, with Jack Jerabek taking 3/14 and Nuwan Madhusanka Vidana Kankanamge taking 3/16.
Despite a number of Eagles getting starts, there was no luck in response, with Nathan Watt scoring 33, Dinesh Arichcige scoring 22 and Chandika Hemachandra scoring 20 as the Eagles were rolled for 129.
Mernda was no match for Riverside, losing by seven wickets after posting 140. No batting or bowling stats were available for the Demons.
In the women’s North Metro Cricket Association competitions, South Morang Blue lost a high-scoring game to North Balwyn, with the Lions scoring 1/171, but North Balwyn chased it down with eight wickets to spare.
No batting or bowling figures were available for the Lions.
Laurimar Black scored a five-run win over Alphington United.
Batting first, the Power was guided by Kyra Rule’s 50 and Tara Chetcuti’s 43 to make 2/138, before the bowling of Abbey Buckley helped keep United in check, taking 3/24 to ensure Alphington only made 6/133 in response.
South Morang Maroon and Laurimar Teal met at Mill Park Lakes, with the Power taking a nine-wicket win.
Janine Slater led the way with 23 runs as the Lions made 3/107 batting first, with Ann O’Gorman leading the way for the Power with 1/4 off six overs.
In response, Danielle Toull scored 46 to help guide the Power home comfortably, scoring 1/111.
