Steve Chapman was vital with bat and ball in Hallam-Kalora Park’s close victory over Doveton. 44073 By Gavin Staindl
AFTER three days of swashbuckling and running to and from the shelter of the club rooms, the Dandenong and District Cricket Association semi-finals have finally been decided with upsets in both the Turf One and Turf Two grades.
TURF ONE
@BT Sub Sport News:Hallam-Kalora Park d Doveton
Hallam-Kalora Park has advanced to the Turf One grand final on the back of a topsy-turvy 20-run win at Hallam Recreation Reserve.
Hallam-Kalora Park elected to bat and made the most of the quick outfield by reaching 100 with the loss of only two wickets.
Steve Chapman (86) and Leigh Booth (37) were both handy in utilising the good conditions to make a solid 77-run partnership.
After rain washed out the remainder of the day with the home side at 2/79, Hallam-Kalora Park resumed the following day only to lose 8/54 and give Doveton a sniff.
Doveton’s Corrie Wilson took 7/75 but had his good work undone when he found himself at the crease with his side flailing at 5/58.
However, a steadying partnership by Wilson (11) and Madura Weerasinghe Silva (58) ensured the game would go to a third day to determine a result.
Trying to find runs on a rain soaked outfield proved difficult for Doveton and Hallam-Kalora Park’s Paul McDonald thrived taking three wickets on the third day.
Fittingly, the man who had set up the win with his 86 came on to remove to final two batters to secure the win.
Man-of-the-match Steven Chapman took 2/7 in his four overs that sparked jubilation across the ground.
@BT Sub Sport News:Buckley Ridges d Berwick
Berwick must be wondering what went wrong after they were bundled out of the Dandenong and District Turf One finals in one weekend after sitting on top of the league ladder for the past five months.
For the first time this year Berwick was completely out-classed, losing by 157 runs at Arch Brown Reserve.
Losing the toss may have been the turning point of the match as Buckley Ridges were able to score 4/151 in dry conditions before rain set in and began to play havoc on the pitch.
The Ridges, on the back of high scores by Suren Ekanayake (57), Paul Franks (75) and Ruwan Jayadeva (67) pushed the total to 8/317 from the 90 overs.
Berwick in response could only muster 160 as they were bowled for their lowest two-day score this season.
At the beginning of the season the 9-1 Berwick side were picked by DDCA experts to be a mid-range team but a good balance of youth and experience coupled with some hard fought wins in the clutches proved to be a distinctive feature of the Bears.
“We won all of our one-dayers that we played in … and we won the close matches where as last year we would have lost them,” an optimistic Allan said.
Allan is also confident of retaining a similar side for next year.
“Simon Cornell is retiring … but I am pretty confident of retaining everybody for next season.”
Turf Two
@BT Sub Sport News:Cranbourne d Buckley Ridges
After losing to the Ridges last week to give up a home final, Cranbourne has bitten back by taking out the match that really matters.
Cranbourne advanced to the Turf Two grand final by five runs at Park Oval after Matt Moore dismissed ridges captain Ian West for the final wicket.
With rain clouds quickly approaching and the runs required quickly falling, the signs were not good for Cranbourne.
As a draw would hand the higher-placed Ridges’ direct entry into the grand final, Moore, in only his third Turf Two match this season, was handed the ball in desperation of a wicket and the experienced veteran came up trumps.
After successive in-swingers, Moore had West edging at an out-swinger that was sensationally caught by wicket-keeper Steve Hall. Earlier, Cranbourne had made 194 on the back of Daniel Diwell’s 45.
In response Buckley Ridges made 189 after passing 100 for the loss of only four wickets. Cranbourne’s Rob Cleland (3/49), who bowled 36 overs for the match, including 20 in one spell, was one of the main reasons behind the victory.
Cranbourne now meet Dandenong West in the grand final and for the right to be elevated into Turf One.
@BT Sub Sport News:Dandenong West d Lyndale
Dandenong West has been the benchmark for Turf Two all year and they proved why by cruising to a 108-run victory at Greaves Reserve.
Dandenong West’s Anthony Brannan smashed 156 in wet conditions to lift his team to a formidable total of 290.
His ton is the third for the season and could not have come at a better time as his team now prepares to play Cranbourne in next week’s grand final.
At 6/61 Lyndale never looked like giving the home side many troubles and only a 49 by Ruwan Weerawardena pushed Lyndale’s total to 172.
