Lions fine tune for finals

By Todd Whelan

Darley Cricket Club

BCA title challengers Darley have recorded a ‘clinical’ 66 run win on the road over Ballarat-Redan at the weekend.

After winning the toss Lions star duo Dilon Chandima (69) and Danza Hyatt (62) went to work on a ‘bat friendly’ pitch, top scoring to aid the tally up to 6/261 from their 50 overs. Their contributions among others with the willow was the ideal preparation ahead of a semi final showdown against East Ballarat (in Ballarat) beginning on Saturday.

Rookie opener Rockey Hoey 24(37), middle order pair Mitch Ward 35*(52) and Drew Locke 37(31) showed encouraging signs with timely knocks giving the collective Pride a major confidence boost ahead of the business end of the season. Hoey combined with Chandima at the top to put on 56 for the first wicket before Hyatt and Chandima added 98 in good time to lay the foundations of the innings.

Ward, promoted to the number four position thrived with the opportunity and faith shown by Longhurst to remain unbeaten with invaluable time spent out ‘in the middle’. The 22 year old’s knock showed the maturity capable of playing an important role in the finals. His 52 ball innings was solid at one end while his come and go partners at the other combined for 50(51) of their own. Locke’s quickfire 37 was the pick of them with five fours and a six.

The asking rate of 5.24 runs per over was always going to be a tough ask for the home-side who had won just one game heading in but that wasn’t to be an excuse for the Lions to take their foot off the pedal.

There’s no doubting the Lions would have wanted to bowl out their eighth placed opposition but Captain Ben Longhurst was not too concerned.

“Our bowling was fine,” he said.

“The pitch did favour the batting side, so it was never going to be easy,”

“Dropping five catches didn’t help, but we will be working on that this week.”

Off spinner Dilon Chandima (4/35) took the honours with the ball while Madushanka Ekanayake and Hyatt shared identical support figures of 1/18 from their six overs. With the game realisticly beyond reach for Ballarat-Redan a fair way out, having ‘Ekka’ on ice ahead of a gruelling finals series is just what the Lions would have wanted. Smart cricket.

Post-match it was clear Longhurst was content to move on quickly as ‘bigger fish to fry’ awaits last season’s Runners-Up.

“We’re looking forward to another finals series where we will need to be at our best to get over East Ballarat,” he said.

BCA 1st GRADE – (R17)
Darley 6/261, Overs 50. D. Chandima 69, D. Hyatt 62.
Ballarat-Redan 8/195, Overs 50. D. Chandima 4/35.
Darley WON by 66 runs.

BCA 2nd GRADE – (R13 – Day 2)
North Ballarat 185, Overs 76.2. L. Cornford 2/10, M. Seager 2/30.
Darley 6/186, Overs 62.2. S. McAndrew 62, J. Martindale 32*.
Darley WON by 4 wickets.

BCA 3rd GRADE – (R13 – Day 2)
Darley 98 & 116, Overs 32. J. McKerrow 51*.
East Ballarat 139, Overs 26.5. L. Bona 4/36, G. Martindale 3/30.
Darley lost on first innings.

BCA 4th GRADE – (R13 – Day 2)
Darley 7/263, Overs 75. T. Gallagher 97, S. Ward 52.
Wendouree 159, Overs 60.1. M. Singh 5/25, P. Jarvinen 2/39.
Darley WON by 104 runs.

BCA 5th GRADE – (R19)
Darley 7/138, Overs 40. M.Beck 50*, D. De amyand 26.
Creswick-Imperials 6/139, Overs 27.5. A. Bird 3/26, D. De amyand 2/46.
Darley lost by 4 wickets.