Cricket and awareness of domestic violence were the winners when the North Metro Cricket Association celebrated its festival of cricket on Sunday.
The annual event is aimed at getting players from clubs across the association together with the aim of raising money for the White Ribbon Foundation.
The day includes men’s, junior and legends matches and, for the first time, a women’s T10 tournament.
The women’s tournament included six teams, who played in two round robin matches before a final.
Preston Druids won it easily, defeating Heidelberg in the final. They made 1‐36 in reply to Heidelberg West’s 3‐35.
In the junior and senior matches, players were selected from across the association to make representative sides.
In the senior match, each club was asked to nominate a player and then teams were formed with players from A through to D grade.
First up was the junior match, where the black side led by Bundoora Park’s Jacob Carruthers made 4‐226 on the back of a century to Riley Hillyear.
The white side made 7‐184 in reply and Hillyear was named man of the match.
Next was the legends match, an invitational game for players who have played more than 300
games or 30 years across the three competitions which are now under the North Metro Cricket Association banner.
The black side made 6‐148 in its innings, which the white team passed on the back of 52 not out from Rivergum’s Alex Jesensek.
In the senior match, the two sides were again captained by Rivergum’s Gary Bell and Keon Park’s Ryan Docherty, who also did the honors last season.
The black batted first and made 9‐135 off its overs, Lalor Warriors skipper Todd Hughes top‐scoring with 53 to back up his unbeaten century for the Warriors the previous day.
The white side could manage only 4‐128 in replay.
Northcote United’s Joel Thompson top‐scored with 76 not out.
Hughes was named man of the match.
