By Gavin Staindl
THE race to qualify for the Dandenong and District Cricket Association finals has become much clearer after last week’s two-dayers.
With one round left, starting this Saturday, the make-up of the final four appears confirmed.
In Turf One, Buckley Ridges cemented top spot while Springvale South and Parkfield are also safe in the top four.
Berwick sits in fourth, a game in front of Doveton, and needs only to beat Keysborough to secure fourth place.
In Turf Two, Coomoora, HSD and Cranbourne are all safely in the top four but if Narre North or Fountain Gate can sneak an outright victory they could leapfrog into the finals.
TURF ONE
@BT Sub Sport News:DOVETON v NORTH DANDENONG
Doveton remains in finals contention – by a whisker – after it beat North Dandenong by 57 runs at Robinson Reserve.
Doveton still needs to beat Dandenong West this week and relies on Keysborough upsetting Berwick to qualify for finals but the win over North Dandenong keeps its finals hope alive.
North Dandenong’s James Byrnes (65) dug deep but he was only one of three batters to reach double figures as the visitors were bowled out for 144.
@BT Sub Sport News:ST MARY’S v NARRE WARREN
Narre Warren has removed itself from the bottom of the ladder with a 75-run win over St Mary’s at Carroll Reserve.
In danger of being relegated to Turf Two, Narre Warren posted 193 on the first day before knocking off St Mary’s for 118 in 71 overs.
Narre Warren’s Dwayne Scott (4/16) took his best figures since October 2007 to give the Magpies a three-point buffer over Keysborough in last place.
@BT Sub Sport News:HALLAM-KALORA PARK v DANDENONG WEST
It was a short two weeks for Hallam-Kalora Park and Dandenong West.
After the first day was called off restricting Saturday to a one-dayer, Dandenong West wasted no time in dismissing Hallam for 61 runs before passing the target within 20 overs at Hallam Recreation Reserve.
Dandenong West’s Peter Atkinson took 4/12 as his side completed the seven-wicket victory within half a day.
@BT Sub Sport News:SPRINGVALE SOUTH v BERWICK
After claiming first innings points last week, Springvale South had an outright victory in its sight but a solid 40 overs by Berwick at Alex Nelson Reserve let the idea fall by the wayside.
Trailing by 74 runs heading into its second innings, Berwick looked like a different side to the one that was bowled out for 55 the week before and strolled to 3/76 when tea was called.
It was at this time that both captains agreed to call stumps after 40 overs.
TURF TWO
@BT Sub Sport News:LYNDALE v FOUNTAIN GATE
Fountain Gate was at its ugly best once again after it made a meal of chasing down Lyndale’s 83 but hung on for a three-wicket win at Barry Powell Reserve.
After bowling Lyndale out for its lowest score of the season, Fountain Gate scrapped its way to 89, needing nine batters and 50 overs to finally reach the target.
The Gators, who continue to win despite their frequent batting collapses, move to fifth position and an outright win next week against league leaders Coomoora could see it jump to fourth.
@BT Sub Sport News:CRANBOURNE v SPRINGVALE SOUTH
Cranbourne had no trouble in defending its day-one score of 8/239 as Richard Saniga almost led his team to an outright victory.
Saniga took 6/46 as Cranbourne bowled Springvale South out for 107 in the first innings before sending it in again.
At 2/1 in its second dig, Springvale South was staring at an outright defeat but the middle order clung to its wickets and held out for the remaining 33 overs to finish on 7/107.
@BT Sub Sport News:ST BRIGID’S/ ST LOUIS v NARRE NORTH
Narre North remains in the hunt for finals after its match with St Brigid’s/ St Louis was declared a draw after the final day’s play was washed out.
@BT Sub Sport News:COOMOORA v SOUTHERN PIRATES
There was no hiding it: the Southern Pirates were simply outclassed by league leaders Coomoora who recorded a seven-wicket win at Coomoora Reserve.
The last-placed Pirates managed only 67 runs from their dismal innings and were forced to sit and watch on Saturday as Coomoora did what it liked with the bat.
When Rob Johnston notched up his century (100*) with his side at 5/184 the two opposing captains decided there was little point in continuing play and called it a day.
@BT Sub Sport News:BUCKLEY RIDGES v MARANATHA METHODIST
Maranatha has avoided any risk of relegation after it limped past Buckley’s first innings total of 106 at Park Oval.
At 9/98, Brett Armitage (46) and tailender Darren Hardy (5 no) carefully guided their side past the required target to secure first-innings points before sending Buckley in for a second bat.
Sensing a chance to claim the reverse outright, Buckley declared at 5/175 with 22 overs left but could not dismiss Kyle Hardy (77 no), who was the backbone of Maranatha’s second innings of 4/127.
@BT Sub Sport News:HSD v HAMPTON PARK
HSD showed why it is second on the ladder, defeating Hampton Park by 80 runs at Reedy Reserve.
HSD dismissed the opening five batters for a combined total of 16 before Rhys Fegan (42) and Akaati Pupuke (30) restored some credibility to the score.
Hampton Park was eventually bowled out for 138.
