Have you heard the one about the Canadian, the Englishman and the talented 16-year-old who created history at his home cricket club on the weekend?
The good thing is; it’s no joke…these are the real storylines taking prominence as the Warragul and District Cricket Association (WDCA) prepares itself for two bumper match ups in upcoming semi-finals across the Labour Day weekend.
Just seven days after Canadian Aaditya Varadharajan (167) piloted Ellinbank into a winning position against Drouin; Englishman Ellis Whiteford (128 not out) and teenager Henry Allsop (109) provided the highlight acts in Western Park’s (8/535) mammoth batting effort against Iona (64).
The Warriors, quite rightly, chose centre-wicket practice over a meaningless outright victory, battering the Swamp Tigers into submission on a record-breaking day at Western Park.
The Warriors resumed at 2/187, already with a commanding 123-run lead, with Allsop on 88 not out and Sanjaya Gangodawila also unbeaten on 29.
The pair would go on to make a 107-run partnership for the third wicket.
Gangodawila (60) was the first to be dismissed; with Allsop pulling a ball from Carter Davis over the rope at square leg to become the youngest player in Western Park history to score a 1st XI century.
Greg Munro (46) then continued to build momentum through the middle order before Whiteford, Kade Burns (56) and Jason Croft (33 not out) smashed the ball to all parts after tea.
A late cut from Whiteford brought up the first ton of his career; ending the day having faced just 133 balls with 13 boundaries and one almighty six.
Whiteford and Burns piled on the pain, sharing a 132-run stand for the eighth wicket that came at almost a run a ball.
Jason Clerks (3/99 off 25) and Thomas Cottrell (2/60 off 16) were the multiple wicket-takers for Iona, who finished in last place with one win for the season.
Ellinbank (289) has won the battle for fourth place after the Eagles survived a mighty scare against Drouin (281) at Ellinbank.
The Hawks resumed at 0/34 on day two, but were really one down; with the absence of skipper James Wilcock (20 not out) who was not out overnight.
Mathew Wall (64) gave the Eagles something to think about early, before Jeremy Gray took four-consecutive wickets to give the home side the upper hand.
The impact of Gray saw the Hawks slip from 1/90 to 5/126 in a hurry, before the lower order really dug in for the fight.
Troy Lehman (38), Brad Glover (29), Jonathan Bell (25) and Brayden Notman (22) all threatened to become heroes, but Sean Masterson (3/62) struck some very timely blows.
Lehman was the last wicket to fall, the Hawks falling eight runs short of a tie, after day-one hero Varadharajan caught the tail-ender off the bowling of Masterson.
Drouin may have lost the match, but will take some positive thoughts into this week’s semi-final against Catani.
It was all one-way traffic for Catani (2/179) on day two against Longwarry (160), the navy blues cruising to victory by eight wickets at Longwarry.
Liam Adams (65 not out) and Ned Harrison (40 not out) made sure there were no last-day misdemeanours, sharing a 104-run union to guide the visitors home.
And Trafalgar (99 and 9/207) can hold its head high after denying Hallora’s (6/205d) push for outright victory at Hallora.
The home side declared overnight with a 106-run lead; sending Trafalgar back to the crease for the opening ball of day two.
Hallora almost got everything right, but a 116-run partnership between Alex McKenna (64) and Rhys Holdsworth (51) made it first-innings points only for Hallora.
Grant Duncan (3/53), Brett Watkins (2/10) and Gamini Kumara (2/44) took multiple wickets on the last day of the season for both teams.
Semi-final match ups see Western Park (1) take on Ellinbank (4) at Bellbird Park, while Catani (2) and Drouin (3) will battle it out for a grand final berth at Western Park.
WDCA DIVISION 1
Results R14 (Final Round – Day 2): Western Park 8/535 v Iona 64, Hallora 6/205 v Trafalgar 99 and 9/207, Longwarry 160 v Catani 2/179, Ellinbank 289 v Drouin 281.
Ladder: Western Park 75, Catani 57, Drouin 49, Ellinbank 42/ Hallora 36, Trafalgar 36, Longwarry 36, Iona 9.
Semi-Final Fixture (Saturday/Sunday): Western Park (1) v Ellinbank (4) at Bellbird Park; Catani (2) v Drouin (3) at Western Park.
