By DUSTIN PEARSON
WANDIN Cricket Club’s triumphant C Grade team is still celebrating its historic back-to-back premiership victory in the Yarra Valley Cricket Association.
On a perfect autumn day, Wandin won the toss and elected to bat, with Luke Painter continuing his rich vein of form with some beautiful hook and cut shots.
Partnered with the steady Rhett Smith, the pair got Wandin off to a solid start with 0/35.
After Painter was skillfully stumped by the veteran Blain for 42, Wandin then batted purposefully to be 3/96 by tea.
Pearson was out in the first over after tea to Harding, quickly followed by Rod Aitken for a well-constructed 25, with Wandin at 6/115.
Suddenly, the pendulum was swinging Gruyere’s way, due to a good spell from Josh Harding and young Ethan Blain’s left arm medium pace, who toiled for 20 overs.
A great rearguard partnership from Wandin’s first-year captain, Tim Thorne, and the ever-reliable Toby McKinnon, helped Wandin to 174.
This was a respectable total on the slow outfield of the Seville number two ground. Gruyere was optimistic but had a poor start, with both openers out trying to pull, and were suddenly 2/16.
They kept losing wickets due to Jimmy Oakley’s accurate spell and Luke Painter’s awkward medium-pacers. At tea, with some sharp catching from Wandin, Gruyere was behind the eightball at 6/74.
Mitch Hodgett then showed his team-mates how to compile an innings, with some well-timed power hitting.
But this was the only time Gruyere looked a chance. When Wandin’s Oakley removed stubborn Darren Waixel for four and Mitch Hodgett for an excellent 35, the game was back in Wandin’s grasp.
Oakley finished with an outstanding effort of 4/20 for the match, with support provided from Painter (2/19) and Adam Daly (2/30).
It was now just a formality before Wandin cleaned up the Gruyere tail and was jubilant at winning its second consecutive C Grade premiership.
