Craig Bancroft runs in to bowl for Altona. 77342 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
By MICHAEL ESPOSITO
run victory against Balwyn in the qualifying final of the Victorian Sub-District Cricket competition on the weekend, to set up a semi-final clash against Kew this Saturday and Sunday.
Balwyn however has benefitted from the “lucky loser” system and will play Melton in the other semi-final.
But even though the other two qualifying final results (Melton defeated Broadmeadows and Kew defeated Plenty Valley) ensured both Altona and Balwyn would advance to the semi-final stage, the major advantage of winning the final was that the victor would avoid Melton, whose only loss this season came in round four to Plenty Valley.
Aaron Maynard, as he has been numerous times this year, was the star of the show with a solid innings of 65 and a five-wicket haul.
Defending 225, Altona started perfectly with early wickets taken by Gayan Fernando and Craig Bancroft to have Balwyn at 2/8, but Benn Gordon (38) and Simon Steel (69) put on a 115-run partnership to gain the upper hand.
Gordon McFarlane got the breakthrough wicket of Gordon, and with his next ball caught Trent Thomson LBW, sparking another momentum shift. Maynard took the following two wickets and all of a sudden Balwyn had lost its last four wickets for just 11 runs.
Balwyn steadied after tea with Geoff Kiker and Michael Tuohey putting on a 33-run partnership, and when Kiker was dismissed, Tuohey tried to keep on strike as much as possible, and played a valiant 46-run innings – his highest of the season – before he was skittled by Maynard.
At 8/216 the tension was climbing, but Fernando produced a run out and Maynard claimed the final wicket to give Altona a confidence-boosting victory after losing its final game of the home-and-away season to bottom side Yarraville.
Altona captain and opener John Varchione top scored with 70, while fellow opener Benjamin Davies scored 21. After a good start, Altona went from 2/151 to 5/164, but some handy runs from tail-enders helped push Altona to a competitive total.
While Maynard was the clear man of the match, Altona coach Mark McAllion also praised the bowling efforts of McFarlane (two wickets) and Bancroft (one wicket) for their disciplined spells.
But Maynard showed why he was VSDCA team of the year material with another match-winning performance.
“He’s been very good, he’s made a heap of runs and bowled really well, and he’s also an outstanding fielder so he’s had a really fantastic season,” McAllion said.
McAllion was expecting a tough match against the highly-fancied Kew this weekend.
“They had a great year, we beat them in a one-dayer last time we played but they’re a very good side, so it will be a big game.”
The winner will advance to the grand final the following weekend.
