THE under-18 game between traditional rivals, the Yarra Valley Cricket Association and Ferntree Gully District Cricket Association, turned into a thriller.
The FTGDCA won the toss and batted first at the Knox Gardens strip. Sharp bowling by Jackson Wright and Daniel Rogers quickly saw the FTGDCA lose wickets and it was 4-50 after 18 overs.
A solid innings from D Devenish (76) and J Turcinovic (52 not out) saw the team reach 7-235 off its 50 overs. For the YVCA, Wright took 3-40 and Rogers, J Fellows and R Smith took one wicket each.
The YVCA lost an early wicket before consolidating to 3-66 off 17 overs, with J Rowe making a quick-fire 21.
Ben Monkhurst settled the innings and his was the fourth wicket to fall with the score on 131. Captain Smith kept the runs flowing until he was out at 179.
The game came down to a run a ball situation, with the YVCA getting all out for 222 (Monkhurst 68, Smith 73 and Glen Sanders 20).
The next under-18 game will be against the West Gippsland CA at Gruyere Oval on November 23.
DJ Strachan Shield
COLDSTREAM, with 141, could not keep Gruyere District under control. The Districts made 9-256 at stumps (Matt Tilney 65 and Brett Young 66). Coldstream's Matt Stark returned to the side and bowled well to take 2-24.
Wandin had to bowl well to defend 195. But Warburton-Millgrove needed a steady approach, requiring only 2.6 runs an over. As it was, Wandin held sway. Only Liam Barnard (32) knuckled down fully as Wayne Ross (4-21) and Gary Frankovic (3-22) did a fine job for Wandin, restricting its rivals to 140.
Launching Place United's 117 was never enough to stop Healesville which made 214 (Scott Hamer 56, Julian Russell 47; Hugh Wadsworth 5-40).
Hoddles Creek, playing Mt Evelyn, was faced with a big chase of almost 300. In the end it could manage only 203. Simmonds' 43 was the standout effort and Chris Anderson and Kane Jones took 4-34 each.
Seville notched its first win when it beat Yarra Junction.
The visitors, defending 213, turned to young fast bowlers Daniel Healy (4-47) and David Wallace (3-29) for inspiration and they helped dismiss the Eagles for 140.
RA Finger Trophy
HEALESVILLE was dismissed for 71 against Seville, which had amassed 208 (Steven Morgan 4-9 and Nathan McGill 4-30).
Yarra Glen 148 and 6-83 (Shane Holland 21, Jon Woods 20) defeated MtEvelyn 9-117 (Chris Doyle 31; Jamie Holland 3-29, Jon Woods 3-27).
Woori Yallock scored 156 (Cal Ferguson 59; Stuart Thompson 4-43) to account for Yarra Junction 124 (Chris Fall 47; M White 5-27, Adam Dunn 3-26). In its second knock Woori made 6-113 (McKeown 61, Thompson 5-40).