Latrobe Under 18s turns tables on Leongatha in Gippsland one-day final

THE two grand finalists in the Gippsland Region 7 Under 18 cricket competition, Leongatha and Latrobe Valley, have played out a worthy match at Hallora Recreation Reserve to end their representative cricket season.

However, this time, after going down to the LDCA team in the T20 grand final during the week, it was Latrobe which won the toss and batted first this time and has narrowly been able to defend their total of 7/218 off 50 overs.

In fact, Leongatha ultimately didn’t bat out their 50 overs or they surely would have won, completing 46.1 overs, all out for 199.

At various stages in the LDCA reply, they looked well up with the run rate, with wickets in hand especially when Matt Dakin was going at a run-a-ball for his 65 and Harry Butcher 22 and Mitch Croatto 18, the hero of the T20 win, looked to be settling in.

But a flurry of wickets after Mitch Croatto was caught off the bowling of Dylan van der Stoep, who finished with a match-winning 3/13, including some late poles, was the crucial shift in the match and the Latrobe Valley went on with it to win.

Scott Checkley report

Latrobe Valley won the toss and elected to bat on a very good-looking Hallora pitch. Tim Niven and Aydan Williams opened the bowling with both boys getting the ball to swing nicely.

Niven started things off, trapping LV skipper Burrows in front then No.3 Bellingham with a sharp catch taken by Rhett Hume.

The next period proved to be costly for the LDCA lads with Mulley and Seymour forming a good partnership of 115 aided by a few dropped catches from the LDCA.

When both these lads were dismissed in quick succession the score was 4/141. A few more quick wickets and at 6/168 the LDCA had their tails up.

At this point Bloomfield and Stockdale finished off the LV innings well adding 50 to get the LV score up to 218, a good total but one the LDCA thought was very gettable with the good pitch and lightning fast outfield. Niven, Williams and Seuren all claiming 2 wickets.

Our turn to bat saw Harry West and Matty Dakin open up with both lads in really good form playing some great shots all around the oval. Dakin particularly savage on any short balls on offer, getting the score to 63 in good time before West unluckily chopped one on. Skipper Gannon joined Dakin and again the boys looked in total control until Dakin was dismissed for a brilliant 65, featuring 11 boundaries to have the score at 2/116.

At this point LV had introduced leg spin from both ends with both players bowling well, claiming the wicket of Dakin then the unfortunate run out of Seuren, and when Gannon was caught and bowled by Walsh, the middle order were now under pressure. Butcher, Croatto and Williams all got starts but the pressure of the chase proved to be a bit much for a gallant LDCA team.

Congratulations to LV, both teams should be very proud that they put on a great display of cricket.

Congratulations to Aydan Williams who was named joint winner of the U18 Graham Challis player of the year, a huge thrill for an LDCA player to receive the award from one of the greatest LDCA players of all time.

Thanks to Hallora Cricket Club for hosting, what a great place to play cricket!