Plenty Valley wrapped up the club championship and the North/South minor premiership on the last ball of a dramatic day’s play against Caulfield in Subbies cricket on Saturday.
It was the top-of-the-table clash we had been waiting for all season and it certainly delivered. Plenty Valley captain-coach Michael Sheedy labelled it an “epic encounter”.
Caulfield needed eight runs off the final over for victory. Sheedy threw the ball to part-time off-spinner Andrew Bennett, who snared two wickets, including a caught-and-bowled off the final ball.
“If it had gone a metre either side of him it would have been four and we would have lost,” Sheedy said. “We didn’t really know who to bowl but he really stepped up when it mattered most.”
It ensured Plenty Valley remained undefeated, and also helped secure the club championship – Plenty Valley’s seconds finished minor premiers, while the thirds and fourths both finished third.
“That’s our number one goal, winning the club championship,” Sheedy said. “Out of 28 clubs, you are the best, and to secure that on the last ball in a win was absolutely huge.”
The Bats posted 175 in their 45 overs, a scratchy innings that Sheedy said finished about 10-15 runs short of the total they would have liked. He led the way with 44, while Dylan Forster hit 39 and Matt Hunter 34 as they tried to lift the scoring rate.
“It was a low, slow wicket and we were a little short to be honest,” Sheedy said. “They didn’t attack us with the ball, they waited on us to make mistakes.
“It was harder to get in than it was to get out, which made for pretty slow play. It was scrappy but still good cricket.”
Plenty Valley will host Balwyn in a qualifying final this weekend.
The second XI had it easier. After posting 205, with the opening pair of Pierce Barnes and Hayden Einsiedel making their intentions known early, the Bats rolled Caulfield for 160. Ben Rolfs took 4-10.
DANIEL PAPROTH
dpaproth@mmpgroup.com.au
