Max Hatzoglou
Grand United has held onto top spot on the Victorian Turf Cricket Association division 3 ladder after a terrific display with both bat and ball at Fearon Reserve.
United set an impressive total of 7-223 from 40 overs for the Williamstown Imperials, with Nilan Waduge top-scoring with an unbeaten 59 off 57 deliveries.
In reply, they were simply too good with the ball led by Hashan James taking 4-8 from eight overs to spear through the Imperials and bowl them out for a total of 94.
With two games remaining, the win gave United a boost in percentage as they remain on top, equal on points with East Keilor, while it leaves the Imperials just outside the top four in fifth position.
The result still gives sixth placed Sunshine Heights and the Imperials a chance to secure a spot in the top four and play finals.
In the senior division, Keilor and St Albans sit just outside the top four in fifth and sixth spot respectively with both teams in reach of finals.
Keilor’s win over second placed Yarraville Club on Saturday was impressive as it bowled Yarraville out for a total of 106 and kept the entire top five in single digits scores.
Miguel Cummins was the standout performer in the match taking his best figures for the club, 6-15 off eight overs including five maidens, as Keilor defended its total of 6-200 convincingly.
St Albans just got over the line in a nail biter against Craigieburn chasing a total of 5-166 with three balls to spare.
Samuel Laffan being dismissed via a Shanaka Silva run out on 69 proved costly for Craigieburn in its innings.
Saints’ all-rounder Simon Lambert was able to lead his side in reply with the bat scoring 60 off 79 deliveries opening the batting.
The Saints finished 4-170.
In the women’s division, Caroline Springs progressed through to the grand final after defeating Glenroy-St Andrews PV in a promising game for the victors.
Caroline Springs was set a task of chasing 70 runs in 20 overs and did so easily as Myyen Au scored an unbeaten 28 helping her side get over the line in 12.4 overs.
Tiana Baba was the standout of all the bowlers for the Falcons taking 3-12 from four overs including the big wicket of opener Ashley Angus who scored 40 off 42 deliveries for Glenroy- St. Andrews PV.
In division 1, Deer Park held onto top-spot defeating sixth placed Sunshine comfortably as it chased down the Crows total of 167 in 28 overs, losing just one wicket.
Deer Park’s Angelo Emmanuel came out firing with the bat as he scored an unbeaten 93 crushing down the task of the run chase.
Earlier in the day, Yoshan Kumara was the pick of the bowlers for Deer Park taking 4-34 off eight overs while Thilina Masmulla put up a good stand for Sunshine scoring 44, batting at number four.
In division 2 Sydenham-Hillside bounced back from its T20 super over loss during the week, defeating West Newport which it lost to earlier in the season.
West Newport were bowled out for 94 in its attempt of chasing down Sydenham-Hillside’s 163, which was set up by Gayashan Weerasekara’s 69 not out.
In division 4, Caroline Springs defeated Seabrook putting it in second place on the ladder.
In division 5, Sunshine YCW got over the line against Jacana to help keep stay in the top four.
