A season full of highs and lows
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, league executives decided to call off the grand finals across all divisions, leaving the Warriors alone at the top of the table to claim the honours in Division 1, Drouin in Division 2, Catani in Division 3, Western Park in Division 4 and Warragul in Division 5.
Despite the sour end to a challenging season, there were plenty of highlights that graced grounds around the region, including big hundreds, scintillating run chases and a bevy of individual efforts to see teams over the line.
With several rounds early on in the season succumbing to wet weather, getting out on the park seemed to be the biggest hurdle for cricketers, before the second half of the season saw some high-quality cricket played.
Again, Gamini Kumara was unstoppable in season 2019/20 with the bat in Division 1. The Yarragon star amassed 705 runs from his 15 innings at an average of 54.23, a season that included five 50s and a 119* against GarfieldTynong in round six.
The captain led his Yarragon side with poise and saw them to the semi-finals, ultimately falling to Western Park in what would be the final game of the season.
With the ball, Sam Batson continued to put fear into many opening batsmen throughout the district. With 47 wickets at an average of just 9.17, the Western Park captain/coach continually took scalps in the big moments.
His best figures of 8/35 came against Garfield-Tynong, where he picked up 14 wickets for the match in a stunning display of pace bowling.
While the rain played havoc and smoke from the East Gippsland bushfires lingered, players weren’t deterred, with many putting together incredible performances across the divisions this season.
In Round 5, chasing a modest total of 122 against Hallora in Division 1, Buln looked to be cruising to victory at 3/51. However, enter Natsai M’Shangwe. After pushing his sides total over 100 thanks to a quick fire 47 with the bat, the Zimbabwean came on to bowl and immediately made an impact. His incredible spell of spin bowling saw him claim 4/7 in nine overs, to send Buln packing for 100 in a man of the match performance.
Round 6 saw a classic out at the Neerim Recreation Reserve.
The home side posted a mammoth 9/287 thanks to knock of 80 from Ash Lockett. After seeing themselves sitting at 5/102 and with a mountain to climb, Wilson Pollock entered the fray for the Lyrebirds. Coming in at number six, Pollock opened the arms and quickly put Buln back in the game, partnering with Jack Armour and Corey Jagoe to give Buln a chance.
However, the big wicket of Pollock just two short of his 100 saw Neerim escape with a 14 run victory in a topsy turvy clash between rivals.
In Division 4, Longwarry’s Gary Kear started the season in scintillating fashion. The Crows big hitter amassed 432 runs across the first four rounds, which included three hundreds in a row.
His innings of 82*, 119, 127 and 104* saw his Longwarry side off to the best possible start in an incredible display of batting.
Kear finished the season with 646 runs (including five 100s) at an average of 92.3 from his 10 innings. A season he and the whole of Division 4 won’t soon forget.
A Simon Gardiner masterclass was on show in Round 14 as he led his Drouin side over Neerim. After a sub-par batting performance from the Hawks, Gardiner went to work.
He ripped through the Neerim batting order, at one point reducing them to 6/7, leaving them in all sorts of trouble.
He finished with 7/14 from 9.4 overs which included 7 maidens, as Neerim were bundled out for just 30 in the first innings, to help power Drouin into the finals with a big outright victory.
These are just a few of the many highlights that made up what can hopefully be seen as another successful season, with several teams being ultra-competitive right throughout the five divisions.
Catani joining the league and ultimately claiming the title in their first year was a wonderful achievement, while the league looks to be in good hands, with some talented juniors ready to join the ranks next season when the WDCA returns in October.