By JARROD POTTER
RAIN, wind and a low tally all threatened to derail the DDCA’s Under-21 team, but the association’s young cricketers persevered to etch back-to-back victories onto the VMCU Neil Wright Shield.
The DDCA stormed past Diamond Valley Cricket Association on Sunday to hold aloft the shield for the ninth time in the last 30 seasons as they dismissed Diamond Valley in the second innings to take the narrow 20-run triumph.
After rain delayed the start of the match at Jubilee Park, Ringwood, the DDCA lost the toss and were sent in to bat on a less than favourable wicket… at least for the batsmen.
Reminiscent of the sticky wickets of the uncovered era, the DDCA toiled to stay at the crease as Diamond Valley struck quickly and often.
Wickets fell as did the rain and the DDCA slumped to 7/64.
The gallant defensive knocks of captain Dylan Quirk (17 off 44 balls) and Clay McCartney (14 off 22 balls) came unstuck.
Not much seemingly separated the DDCA from complete oblivion, but the tail wagged in the best way possible to push the total along.
Hallam Kalora Park’s Jordan Hammond (33) excelled as he got his eye in before bludgeoning five boundaries in quick succession to get the DDCA into triple figures but not without a tentative start first up.
“I was quite nervous to be honest when Dyl (Dylan Quirk) went out,” Hammond said.
“Not hitting them too well at the present time.
“I wasn’t too confident heading out there, but early it was pretty hard and the wicket was doing a bit.
“After a while got in a bit… probably the first time this year I’ve hit the ball out of the middle.”
Hammond would be the last to fall – after skying one last attempted slog – with the DDCA finishing on 108 – but his efforts would prove critical later in the day.
Like a mirror image, Diamond Valley copied the rapid loss of wickets of the DDCA – slumping themselves to 5/50 before start-stop partnerships threatened to take the match and take the Shield off the Dandenong boys.
The first up effort from Hammond (2/11) and Liam Dudding (1/22) started the procession before left-arm spinner Jagveer Hayer (3/11) and Nick Shirt (2/10) begun rattling off wickets of their own.
Hammond came back on to finish the job and help the side take the honours – taking the last scalp as the captain with his fourth catch to seal the match.
The tall paceman knew the DDCA bowling attack could defend the tally as every other team had struggled to get them off the square.
“I think the highest score any other team had made against us was 120 and that was the semi-final and every other team we bowled out under 100, so we were pretty confident.
“I just wanted to hit the wicket – I was nervous again then as well – I didn’t think I was going to bowl again as the other guys were doing pretty well, but Dyl decided to put me and Liam back on and help me take the last wicket.”
The DDCA wanted to thank coach Peter Lindsay, team manager Neil Shaw and scorer Steve Richards for their efforts with the junior team.
