The Metropolitan North West under-18 cricket side went through the week undefeated at the Cricket Victoria under-18 male state championships last week – but rain cruelly denied the team a place in the final.
The Wizards won all four of their pool games with ease. They finished top of their pool after the first four days.
Those results set up a semi-final with Metropolitan Inner East, which had also gone through the pool games undefeated.
Metropolitan Inner East made 231 in the semi-final, with Zachary Mevissen taking five wickets for the Wizards.
But then the rain came, washing out the game, which was declared a draw. As Metropolitan Inner East had a higher percentage, it will play off in the grand final on February 5 at the MCG.
Wizards coach Dervis Duradbegovic said the rain brought a disappointing end to what had been an enjoyable week.
“To end like that it was really disappointing,” he said.
“We shouldn’t have been in that position to start with. It was strange structure and it didn’t properly reward teams that did well.
“Except for 20 minutes in the first game, we were comfortable in all our games.”
“A team which won two games [Western Spirit] made it through to finals. Our semi-final would have been worthy of a grand final.”
While disappointed with the end result, Duradbegovic was thrilled overall with how the players performed and what they had taken from the week.
“We had some top-end performances,” he said. “There were three centuries scored and another 50-odd. We had a player [Alex Mills] take a hat-trick in a bag of five wickets, and there was another bag of wickets, as well. They were a real good bunch of players.”
In a good sign for the Wizards going forward, bottom ager Patrick Williach was the standout.
Williach, who opened the batting, made two centuries at the championships, averaging 126.
The performance of Williach surprised much of the side, but not Duradbegovic
“Prior to the week I kept my cards close to my chest with the batting line up,” he said.
“I was getting sussed out by the kids, and I asked where they thought everyone would bat,” he said. “They thought Patrick would bat at six or seven. They were shocked when I said he was opening. I saw some qualities the first time I saw him.
“He embraced it and really absorbed everything. He’s an outstanding fielder, too.”
Duradbegovic said Williach was one of about half a dozen players who could be selected in the side again next year.
“We’ve got some key bats and some key bowlers,” he said. “I’m quite familiar with the 16-year-olds and it could be another strong year for the Wizards boys.”
