By JARROD POTTER
DDCA Turf 1 – Grand Final
MORDIALLOC (9/246) looked buried against Heinz Southern Cobras (61).
The Bloodhounds were sent begging from the crease in droves on the first morning of the DDCA Turf 1 grand final as the Cobras struck… and struck… and then struck a few more times to leave Mordialloc in all sorts of trouble at 6/58.
Justin Davis (3/63) seared through the top order – taking Tim Richardson (8) and Mordy skipper Monto Perera (0) in a single over rampage.
Once Ian Daniel’s (21) gallant knock came to an end, it looked like Heinz would take the points on the first day… but that’s not the end of the tale by a long margin.
Chathura Athukorala (72) turned the match on his own shoulders – anchoring a pair of lower-order 50 run partnerships to keep the Bloodhounds alive. Firstly with Stuart Squires (13) then a sensational stand with Cameron Tomkinson (62 not out) before Athukorala was finally sent to the sheds after Davis snared the must-have wicket. But the Bloodhounds kept sniffing out runs as Tomkinson and Nick Connellan (29) went the tonk. Connellan connected with a couple that flew onto rooves and Cheltenham Road to push Mordialloc past 200. They would finish on 246 with the 19-year-old Tomkinson undefeated in his first, and likely most memorable, Turf 1 half-century.
Michael Davies (3/48) toiled for the Cobras – running through 26 overs and 14 maidens in his inaugural Turf 1 grand final appearance – while Paul Stockdale (3/79) was the other major wicket taker.
Sunday belonged to Mordialloc as the Bloodhounds ripped through the Cobras (61).
Patience was a virtue no Heinz bat could afford as reckless shots gave Mordialloc the upper hand.
Cobras’ captain Trevor Davies (25) top scored and with Matt Cox (10) proved the best two of the Reedy Reserve brigade.
Ian Daniel (4/11) and Chathura Athukorala (2/17) excelled with the new leather to wipe out any chance of Heinz getting its first Turf 1 premiership, before Bloodhounds skipper Monto Perera (3/19) finished the job.
“It was disappointing, but we’ll learn from it,” Cobras’ captain Trevor Davies said.
“I think we bowled well most of the day (Saturday) and we bowled well at the end as the pitch flattened right out.
“Winning the toss and batting first, you can take those risks and we were in a similar position (to Mordialloc) second innings, but had to consolidate to try and get to the total.
“Fourth year up (in Turf 1) it’s a good achievement for us, so we’ve definitely come a long way.”
It is Mordialloc’s first DDCA Turf 1 premiership.
