By PETER DOUGLAS
TWO-DAY cricket kicked off in the Yarra Valley last Saturday, and the batsmen brought their patience in a day of dogged cricket.
Healesville bounced back from the disappointment of last weekend’s dual losses, with a commanding batting performance against Hoddles Creek.
The battle before tea was one of patience from both sides, as the Bloods looked to establish a position from which they could attack.
Against some consistent bowling, the top order did an excellent job of keeping things intact; and with the score at 1/80 at the break, they had successfully negated the new ball and looked set to cash in.
Missing from the first couple of rounds, Adam Violi (72) and Brian Scanlon (59) proved their worth to this line-up as their experience and stroke play quickly had the score ballooning at a rapid rate.
Jeremy Derix (3/34) and Nick Lawlor (3/69) did their best to try and stem the flow, but the old adage of ‘wickets in hand’ allowed some freedom in the batsmen coming to the crease.
When stumps were drawn, Healesville had built an imposing score of 8/269.
Hoddles Creek will have to bat well to reach the target and will rely on their established stars to carry the load.
Their top-order has begun the season well and they will be confident of chasing the total, if they can get themselves into the innings.
On the other hand, Healesville will be cock-a-hoop after their best batting display in some time.
One would think they are in the box seat.
Warburton-Millgrove and Seville battled it out in a tough day’s cricket at Warburton.
The home side batted most of the day against some steady bowling from the Blues.
David Lever looked threatening early and raced to 38, but his dismissal stunted the Burras’ innings somewhat.
Generally regarded as a fringe player, Jeremy Lewis showed that he is ready to step up to A Grade after a run-making season in RA Finger Trophy last season.
His innings of 63 provided some much-needed backbone to an otherwise disappointing innings.
Warburton-Millgrove would be disappointed they could not capitalise on some solid starts; and although they reached a good score of 208, deep down they would’ve been hoping for more.
With an experienced bowling line-up, Warburton-Millgrove have themselves in front of this contest and they will be counting on some early strikes to put a young Seville batting line-up under pressure.
The batsmen on the other hand will know a good start, and some patient batting, will be key to giving the chase a real shake, and that the score is far from one that is impossible to chase.
In the final game of the round, Woori Yallock showed they are going to be a tough team to wear down as they took the honours on day one against Mount Evelyn.
Mount Evelyn opened the contest with the bat.
In a patient display on a slow ground, the Rovers did their best to set up a large total, but threw wickets away at crucial times, leaving them short of a significant score.
After a useful opening partnership, captain Damian Cupido (40) looked as if he was set for a big day, but with his wicket falling when set for the race to the finish, the Rovers innings lacked punch as the remaining batsmen were caught between caution of a collapse and adding vital runs to the score.
Chad Witherdin (21) and Jesse Fraser (29) added some healthy blow and the young tail held things together.
But the nagging, and disciplined, bowling of Dan Mock (5/46) and Ben Hayes (3/62) proved the difference in keeping the score under 200.
The Rovers would be happy in all but batting out the day, but they know that 172 is short of the mark.
Having said that, it is still a tricky total to chase.
If Mount Evelyn can return the favour with some patient bowling, and take consistent wickets, then it’s game on, but they will be aware that if they give this strong, and at times brutal, Woori Yallock batting line-up an inch, they could be in for a long day in the field.
DJ Strachan Shield
Hoddles Creek v Healesville 8/269 (A. Violi 72, B. Scanlon 59, J. Derix 3/34, N. Lawlor 3/69), Warburton Millgrove 208 (J. Lewis 63, David Lever 38, Daniel Lever 28, M. Hadlum 4/59) v Seville, Mount Evelyn 172 (D. Cupido 40, J. Fraser 29, C .Witherdin 21, D. Mock 5/46, B. Hayes 3/62) v Woori Yallock
RA Finger Trophy
Gruyere 9/515 (L. Aitken 130, A. Waixel 118, J. Carroll 50, J. Oakley 5/108) v Wandin, Healesville 120 (B. Horner 36, M. Minney 18, M. Pezzimenti 4/16, B. Walsh 3/25) v Coldstream 1/26, Warburton-Millgrove 179 (J. Jufferman 46, T. Walker 42, B. Johnson 5/40, M. White 2/38) v Woori Yallock, Seville 156 (R. Oates 40 L. Corbett 37no, R. Wilson 3/48) v Mount Evelyn, Yarra Junction 174 (G. Thompson 45, D. Chaproniere 34, T. Hawkins 25, S. Robinson 5/37, P. Jones 3/45) v Hoddles Creek.
C Grade
Yarra Junction 177 (G. Lebrocq 48no, S. Ahern 30, S. Thomas 29, T. Gaskett 28, A. Boyle 2/17, M. Fawdry 2/26, B. Kealy 2/42, H. Kealy 1/0) v Healesville, Yarra Glen d Marysville (forfeit)
D Grade
Wandin 9/162 (D Wallace 65no, D. Alderman 32, D Rowe 3/19) d Hoddles Creek 122 (B. Horsefield 20, J. Lawrence 20, H. Derix 20, D. Trembath 2/13), Yarra Junction 8/156 (L. Long 61 P. Osbourne J Colling 4/30) d Launching Place 144 (J. Hall 62, L. Long 2/16, B. Clarke 2/8), Powelltown 7/144 (S. Thompson D. Andrel 17, D. Evans 4/21 P. McArdle 1/13 d Coldstream 102 (N. Taylor 36, D. Taylor 21, D. Andrel 2/6, D. Sharpe 2/11), Wandin 5/196 (T. Ward 94, B. Sinnott 71, B. Young 3/13) d Gruyere 8/100 (D. Waixel 24, S. Lowe 16, T. Ward 3/5, M. Oakley 2/5), Mount Evelyn 7/231 (M. Darvell 100, C. Doyle 54, B. Griffiths 25, J. Meir 2/30, L Johnson 2/33) d Seville 9/205 (L. Johnson 84, P. Dall 33, A. Spargo 28, B. Jones 3/29, A. Rustichelli 2/31, C. Doyle 2/51)
One Day Grade
Powelltown 5/157 (A. Clark 40, G. McRorie 31, B. Simpson 31, D Steele 2/3) d Coldstream 148 (J. Sedgman 50, R Say 18, G. McRorie 2/24), Warburton Silvan 4/111 (A. Cannata 41no, D. Begley 14, T. Bissells 14no, S. Middleton 1/3, T. Wappett 1/6) d Millgrove 107 (J. McIntosh 27, A. Nelson 15, B. Abela 15, J. Deitzel 2/15, T. Bissells 2/6), Mount Evelyn 1/118 (H. Tindley-Roe 37no, A. Taylor 29) d Seville 109 (M. Cecere 24), Launching Place v Bye
Under 16s
Mt Evelyn 7/118 (A. Brisbane Flynn 51 L. Thomas 2/11 C. Steele 2/30 L. Sinnott 1/5) v Launching Place, Warburton Millgrove 7/190 (N. McDonald 55no, F. Saurine 37, T. Walker 25, Z. Fawdry 2/23, J. Lawry 2/42, J. Simnett 1/8) v Healesville, Seville 95 (T. Tronerud 27 L. Thompson 4/5 L. Jones 3/8) v Yarra Junction 2/7, Yarra Glen v Bye
Under 14s
Wandin-Launching Place v Warburton 9/144 (C. Newell 50, J. Muir 13, D. Hummer 2/12, X. Beattie 2/23), Healesville Red v Seville 116 (M. Proctor 24no, L. Kay 23no, H. Phelan 3/21, J. Shub 3/23), Yarra Junction 8/207 (Cooper Holmes 51no, Jai Ketelaar 36, L. Allisey 28, Liam O’Dea 23, F. Lever 3/32, A. Boyle 2/13) v Healesville White, Yarra Glen v Bye
Under 12A
Warburton Millgrove 8/96 (J. Sharp 11no, D. Walker 9no, E. Crowley-Brown 8no, H. Fry 2/6, M. Wallace 1/5, R. Dash 1/8) v Healesville Red, Healesville White 5/140 (M. Hirst 12 C. Kusnezow 9 H. Flemming 2/11) v Seville, Marysville v Hoddles Creek (no scores)
Under 12B
Hoddles Creek 5/30 (A. Waldron 7, R. Cameron 2/4, R. Brendish) def by Healesville Blue 2/55 (R. Brendish 14no, A. Darkin 7no, L. Payne 1/4), Yarra Glen 3/186 (C. Adamson 33no, O. Grenfell 33no, A. Thompson 27no, L. Anderson 1/3, K. Taueber 1/6) v Launching Place, Gruyere 9/79 (L. Rogers 24, R. Vassallo 10, N. Doyle 2/7, F.Lee 1/1, A. Vanhoogenstraten 1/2) v Mt Evelyn
Under 10s
Coldstream 3/15 (Jason 4no Jak 2-7 Cooper 1-4) d Woori Yallock 6/12 (Jak 3no, Baylan 3no, Brody 1/-1 Jason 2/-1 Harvey 2/-3), Launch Junior Stars vs Warburton-Millgrove (no scores), Hoddles Creek vs Launching Place Boys (no scores).
