Rampant Lions roar

By Todd Whelan

Darley Cricket Club

Darley is ‘sitting pretty’ at the summit of the BCA table ahead of the Christmas break after a convincing 113 run win on the road over last season champions Golden Point.

Big guns Danza Hyatt 110* (99) and Dilon Chandima 67 (90) came out to play after the Lions won the toss and batted their way to an imposing 3/264 from 50 overs. Hyatt’s innings early was ‘measured’ by his own standards as the number three assumed the ‘steering of the ship’ role throughout the middle overs after Chandima was bowled aiming to raise the scoring rate. At the 40 over mark the former West Indian International had done all the hard work to be 42 off 69 balls before the chaos. Lions coach Brian Wheelahan summed it up best in his post match comments.

“The big fella put on another show,” he said.

Hyatt added a further 68 runs of his own including six monster sixers during the last 10 overs despite facing just 30 of the remaining 60 balls. As a result, a second century in just his third hit-out of the season could not be denied. Eastern Oval has proven a happy hunting ground for Hyatt with 389 runs from six innings at 77.8 avg. As impressive as those numbers are they pale in comparison to his overall current season average of 255. Hyatt ranks #4 in the competition for runs scored (255) behind fellow teammate Chandima (450 runs @75avg) despite just three innings under his belt. `

Chasing 265 for victory the home side dug in, looking an outside chance at 1/64 before Lions seamer Dayle Locke sparked a dramatic batting collapse. Locke took three quick wickets to have the ‘Pointies’ on their knees at 5/76. Lion’s debutant Lachie Bona was among the early wicket takers to make the most of an opportunity presented in the absence of strike bowler Madushanka Ekanayake (family reasons). Offspinner Dilon Chandima (4/20) rest assured his star quality is not limited to his batting exploits alone. Chandima played a part in all of the last five Golden Point wickets to fall that included a run out. For the record, the reigning EJ Cleary Medalist ranks #2 in the competition for wickets taken with 13. Only East Ballarat experienced seamer Joshua Brown (15) has more.

Coach Wheelahan had every right to have a spring in his step heading into the break as his Lions made it seven wins on the trot.

“It was a fantastic win by the boys against quality opposition,” he said.

“We’re sitting pretty on top at the break, I couldn’t ask for any more than that.”

The Lions head into the break not only #1 on the BCA points table but also #1 for runs made, wickets taken and least number of runs conceded. The numbers alone indicate the Lions to be on track replicating their title successes of 2019/20 and 2020/21.

BCA 1^st GRADE – (R10)

Darley 3/264, Overs 50. D. Hyatt 110*, D. Chandima 67.
Golden Point 151, Overs 38. D. Chandima 4/20, Da Locke 3/29.
Darley won by 113 runs

BCA 2^nd GRADE – (R7)

Darley 123 & 6/207 dec. Overs 36. Dr Locke 102, M. Ward 50
Coronet City 186, Overs 49.3. Da Locke 4/48, L. Bona 2/28, B. Longhurst 2/43.

Darley lost on first innings.

BCA 3rd GRADE – (R3)

Darley 5/187, Overs 40.
Lucas 6/189, Overs 37.3.

Darley lost by 4 wickets.

BCA 4^th GRADE – (R3)

BFB 3/260, Overs 40. A. Ward 1/24, P. Jarvinen 1/30.
Darley 71. Overs 33.3. D. Kilmartin 14, N. Dodemaide 13.

Darley lost by 189 runs.

BCA 5th GRADE – (R11)