ALTONA got its adrenalin shot from a cliffhanger six-run qualifying final win over Balwyn in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association at Balwyn Park on the weekend.
Little else was gained after news filtered through that fifth and sixth-placed Plenty Valley and Broadmeadows had been eliminated, which gave the A’s and Balwyn a safe passage to the semi-finals.
The A’s meant business from the outset, the only blemish in a flawless first session being the loss of Ben Davies for 21. He featured in a 57-run opening stand with John Varchione to set the platform for an intimidating score.
Varchione, who went on to make 70, then combined with Aaron Maynard (64) for a 74-run second-wicket stand.
At 2-131, the sky appeared to be the limit in the A’s innings, but they lost seven wickets for just 61 runs to finish the first day on 9-225 off 80 overs.
The par score on a sound batting track set up an enthralling second day.
The A’s had the hosts 2-8, but Balwyn bounced back with a 115-run partnership between Benn Gordon and Simon Steel. Balwyn then lost 4-11 in the middle order and it was the A’s game to lose.
But the home team leapt off the canvas to rally to a point where they needed a mere 10 runs with three wickets in hand. The A’s refused to concede, taking the last three wickets for three runs.
All-rounder Maynard was easily the man of the match, backing up his half-century with a five-wicket bag.
VSDCA FINALS:
Firsts: Balwyn 219 (SJ Steel 69 MF Tuohey 46 BM Gordon 38 AP Maynard 5-56 G MacFarlane 2-14) lt Altona 9-225 (J Varchione 70 AP Maynard 64 FW Lane 3-22
AJ Young 3-41 NJ Hailey 2-42), Melton 193 d
Broadmeadows 112, Kew 223 d Plenty Valley 111.
Seconds: Werribee 86 (R Alifraco 25no M Woods 4-22 C Scott 3-29 CJ Rycroft 2-17) and 3-45 (CJ Rycroft 2-8) lt Yarraville 156 (MD O’Sullivan 55 M O’Grady 27 BJ Hatton 4-24 R Alifraco 2-22 S Molloy 2-28), Melton 3-163 d Plenty Valley 9-159, Ivanhoe 174 lt Kew 8-215.
Thirds: Altona 146 (CA Scott 43 L Papac 35 M Stead 4-30 B Notman 3-32) lt Melton 222 (J Kennedy 87
A Cristofaro 64 S McCartney 4-31 S Clarke 3-52 B Deller 2-34), Plenty Valley 72 lt Werribee 138, Brunswick 168 lt Balwyn 246.
Fourths: Kew 9-321 (L Citroen 187no J Fitzgerald 38 M Angwin 33 ME Perry 33 L Henderson 2-16 D Keenan 2-28 M Pickering 2-50 R Keenan 2-64) d Yarraville 242 (M Pickering 87 A Ramadge 50 M Findlay 33 R Citroen 3-51 P Sist 3-73), Coburg 9-225 (L Shellie 128 DL Culhane 4-57 A Wesley 3-68) d Altona 78 (C Scott 28 WD Rowland 6-39 J Nettleton 3-14), Plenty Valley 64 lt Melton 131 and 7-130.
