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The Moorabool News – 22 March, 2022 Page 21
JUNIOR PREMIERS Taking a spectacular overhead catch off Beth Davenport top scored with 19 runs her own bowling, Sarah Burton finished with 2/11. Eamon Grigg 1/9 with some tight bowling. retired. (continued from page 1) Jai Singh injured himself with an awkward fall in the first over putting his body on the line to stop a 4 at Third Man. Clover McIlwaine opened the bowling with a wicket in her second over. Beth Davenport the teams long standing wicket keeper, passed on keeping duties to Max Farrell for the initial overs to share the new ball after recent success in the U/17s All Girl competition, and bowled super tidy. Max in turn was flawless behind the stumps before fielding at Point and preventing numerous balls getting to the boundary. Angus Tranter then bowled an economical over and was kept busy in the field stopping everything that came his way. With renewed confidence from his batting innings, Eamon Grigg then picked up the teams second wicket with Beth Davenport having resumed wicket keeping duties, taking a lovely catch down low. Oscar Britt bowled next showing how much his bowling has improved this season only going for five runs in his over and stopping a certain four while fielding at Mid Off. Jackson Letcher entered the attack and bowled a
beautiful maiden over first up. Sarah Burton bowling her Off Spin, found her range immediately, picking up two wickets in her spell. She also followed up with an impressive caught and bowled with equally impressive celebrations. The team continued to apply the pressure aware that the game could still turn in the opposition’s favour. Charlotte Wallace in her first season of cricket and fielding at Mid On, stopped anything that came her way continued her fine form with a neat little spell of 1 for 3 off 2 overs. With three overs to go, Clover McIlwaine re-entered the bowling attack, faster and more accurate, to take the teams sixith wicket. Charlotte Wallace and Clover McIlwaine then combined for two very composed run outs to take the opposition’s final wickets and seal the victory and premiership for the team. The team were ecstatic with the win and played their most complete match of the season, with every single player contributing and trying their absolute best. Coach Anthony McIlwaine said the finals were a dream at the start of the year however, the team worked hard.
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Charlotte Wallace bowled well to end on 1/3. Photos: Chris Thom
“Our senior players some still bottom age, and in their fifth year of cricket, continued to embrace the challenges each week. Our new players in their first year of cricket, continued to improve every week,” he said. “There have been girls in the past play for Ballan Cricket Club and it is something we are really proud of. To have five girls in our Premiership team play against predominantly all boy teams every week is very special, and those girls represent many of the girls that have previously been at our club.” Ballan 4/91 defeated Creswick 8/73 Batting - Beth Davenport 19 Ret. n.o, Eamon Grigg 17 Ret. n.o, Clover McIlwaine 16 Ret. n.o, Jai Singh 7 Ret. n.o, Sarah Burton 4, Charlotte Wallace 2, James Bayard 1, Jackson Letcher 1 Bowling - Sarah Burton 2/11, Clover McIlwaine 2/13, Charlotte Wallace 1/3, Eamon Grigg 1/9, Oscar Britt 0/5, Angus Tranter 0/6, Beth Davenport 0/7, Jackson Letcher 0/8, James Bayard 0/10.
Lions prepare for premiership hat-trick Darley Cricket Club – By Todd Whelan Darley will meet Golden Point in this Saturday’s BCA Grand Final at Eastern Oval, having advanced with an impressive eight wicket win over Naps-Sebas at the weekend. Any thoughts and dreams the Lions faithful had of winning back-to-back-to-back titles are now reality. Ironically, history will be repeated if the Lions can successfully live out their dream at the same venue, on the same day, against the same opposition they did 12 months ago. Coach Brian Wheelahan will ask his players to embrace the week in a bid to minimise any nervous tension issues. “We’ve been here before,” he said. “It’s a big week for the club and we feel very proud to have to have earned this opportunity. “We are on the verge of creating something very special, so we’ll enjoy the ride.” According to Wheelahan, rare air awaits the Lions if they can get the job done. Just how the Lions progressed from Saturday’s Semi-Final is well worth exploring. After winning the toss the Lions sent Naps-Sebas into bat, hoping for an advantage with the new ball on a ‘green to the eye’ deck. When strike bowler Madushanka Ekanayake dismissed opening batsman and club leading run scorer Sajith Dissanayake (10), the Lions would hold the upper hand for the best part of 38 overs. Wheelahan praised the efforts of his seamers especially with their ability to restrict the scoring. “The bowlers were superb and were well backed up in the field,” he said. “It was four (runs) if you pierced the infield, so the pressure was on our blokes to execute their skills.” While cagey change of pace bowler Rahmatullah Khwaja (3/58) took wicket honours, Wheelahan paid homage to the frugal nature of his frontliners. Benny Longhurst (0/12 off 10 overs), Ekanayake (2/39 off 10 overs) and Mitch Ward (0/30 off 10 overs) ensured the asking target would not exceed 200. In fairness to Naps-Sebas they did ramp up the scoring over the final 12 overs, near doubling their score in the process before posting a more than competitive 6/183 from their 50 overs. The Lions response with the bat would prove something to behold. If not for a couple of hiccups, the chase was near flawless, again dominated at the top by their leading run scorer Dilon Chandima who remained unbeaten on 112*(129). The ‘little master’ was simply brilliant by definition in a true masterclass display of measured, experienced batting - a most memorable knock that included 13 boundaries.
Chandima and in-form batsman Hasi Wickramasinghe 56*(100) put on a chanceless 130 run partnership for the third wicket, to see out the asking total with four overs (and eight wickets) to spare. “The chemistry these two have is amazing,” Wheelahan said. “You only have to see their understanding (running) between wickets. “They looked in complete control, batted with maturity and calm.” Wheelahan later commented on the quality and importance of Chandima’s century. “Dil was phenominal, his game and attitude belongs on the ‘big stage”, he said. Saturday’s Grand Final begins at 12 noon. •••• In a massive week for the Lions, 3rd Grade and the Under 17s will also take part in their respective Grand Finals after advancing at the weekend. Darley’s 3rd Grade face Mount Clear on Victoria Park 4 while the young gun Under 17s meet Coronet City at Wendouree West. RESULTS – Semi Finals BCA 1st GRADE: Naps-Sebas 6/183, Overs 50. R. Khwaja 3/56, M. Ekanayake 2/39. Darley 2/187, Overs 46. D. Chandima 112*, H. Wickramasinghe 56*. Darley won by 8 wickets. BCA 3rd GRADE: Golden Point 103, Overs 31.3. J. McKerrow 4/33, S. Cornford 3/24, L. Jordan 2/20. Darley 4/105, Overs 25.1, C. Salisbury 39*. Darley won by 6 wickets. Under 17 2ND XI: Darley 152, Overs 40. A. Morton 50, P. Jarvinen 30. Golden Point 141, Overs 50. S. Fawcett 3/36, G. Martindale 2/19. Darley won by 11 runs.
Photos - Tim Saultry / sportingherald.com.au