By Marc McGowan
BERWICK leapt to a commanding 16-point lead atop the Dandenong District Cricket Association Turf One ladder with a devastating triumph over Springvale South on the weekend.
In other Turf One games, Cranbourne survived a surprisingly competitive St Mary’s squad and Narre Warren announced its finals intentions with an easy win over Doveton.
@BT Sub Sport News:TURF ONE
Cranbourne d St Mary’s
Cranbourne survived a defiant St Mary’s challenge to record a one-run victory at Carroll Reserve on Saturday to keep its slim finals chances alive.
After flogging 6/310 off their 80 overs the previous weekend, the Eagles would have expected a comfortable second day against the struggling hosts.
St Mary’s had different ideas and did not lose its first wicket until 57, when Troy Cashman’s (43) eight-boundary knock came to an end.
With Jamie McDonnell (87), Gary Cake (56 not out) and Jonathan Parsons (52) joining Cashman in the run feast, St Mary’s moved to 3/206.
Wily Cranbourne spinner Steven Miller (5/75) eventually wore the opposition down and claimed three straight wickets to leave St Mary’s stumbling at 9/286.
Number 11 batsman Stuart Dowel managed to stick around with Cake to give his side a chance, but with a ball left and four runs still required to win, the Eagles’ total proved just enough.
@BT Sub Sport News:Berwick d Springvale South
Berwick displayed its premiership credentials once again in ruthlessly disposing of Springvale South by 91 runs at Arch Brown Reserve on the weekend.
The Bears beat the Bloods by four wickets in last season’s grand final to claim their first pennant in a decade.
The game appeared to be in the balance heading into the weekend’s play after a 55-run final wicket partnership pushed the Berwick total to 212.
Springvale South resumed at 1/16 and it did not take long for the Bears to strike and restrict the visitors to 2/19.
A slight recovery ensued, but once the third wicket fell at 56 it all came crashing down for the Bloods.
It was the start of a collapse in which eight wickers fell for 65 runs, with Berwick captain-coach Will Carr (3/46) the chief beneficiary.
@BT Sub Sport News:Narre Warren d Doveton
Narre Warren’s barnstorming form continued in a five-wicket triumph over Doveton at Robinson Reserve on Saturday.
Starting the day at 0/14 in reply to the Doves’ 196, Dean Williams (4) failed to add to his score and was soon joined back in the pavilion by fellow opener Dimitri Dimakopoulos (8).
At 2/44 it was suddenly game on, but Narre Warren captain-coach Wendell Perumal (48) was joined at the crease by John Simpson (46) and they compiled a 33-run stand.
The recovery stepped up a gear when the aggressive Dwayne Scott (41) hit the wicket and helped slash a 76-run alliance to set the Magpies on their way.
Only one further wicket fell as Narre Warren stormed past the total and eventually finished on 5/206.
@BT Sub Sport News:TURF TWO
Hallam Kalora Park d Hampton Park
Hampton Park gave Hallam Kalora Park a fright before succumbing by 32 runs at Booth Reserve on the weekend.
Set an imposing 322-run target for victory, Hampton Park stormed to 1/90 on the back of opener Bevan Bell’s season-high score of 64.
He was far from the only contributor, with star all-rounder James Van Elewoud (76) top-scoring and Chris Bateman, following on from his 7/148, hitting a nifty 43.
Hampton Park moved to 5/219, but when it slumped to 7/248 the chase had fizzled out.
An unbeaten 41-run eighth-wicket alliance ensued between Van Elewoud and captain Clinton Gilpin (14 not out), but it was all too late.
@BT Sub Sport News:Coomoora d HSD
Coomoora extended its incredible lead at the top of the Turf Two standings to 17 points with a thumping 131-run success over the slumping HSD at Reedy Reserve on Saturday.
With an improbable run chase of 333 ahead of it, HSD was never in the hunt and fell to 6/126.
The tail had some fight in it, but with wicketkeeper Scott Brandon top-scoring with just 36, HSD was never going to run down the enormous total.
David Nutting was the pick of the bowlers for Coomoora with 3/56.
@BT Sub Sport News:Fountain Gate d Doveton North
Fountain Gate smashed Doveton North outright in a masterful display of bowling at Power Reserve on the weekend.
Doveton North was in dire trouble after day one having already conceded first innings points, but the situation went further downhill on Saturday.
Fountain Gate resumed at 1/131, and skipper Brad Francis (116) added 36 runs to his total to post his second ton of the season.
David Cranfield-Thompson (53) managed to sneak past his half-century, and with some late hitting from Scott Mather (38 not out), Fountain Gate registered 9/262 to assert its control on the contest.
Despite a promising start to its innings, Doveton North’s hopes of avoiding an outright loss evaporated with the dismissal of captain Kevin O’Donnell (22).
That wicket was the first of 10 to fall in 82 runs, the result Doveton North’s third outright defeat of the season.
@BT Sub Sport News:North Dandenong d Maranatha Methodist
Maranatha Methodist completed its woeful effort against North Dandenong on Saturday, losing by 82 runs at Lois Twohig Reserve on Saturday.
Resuming at a disastrous 4/13, somehow the situation got even worse for Maranatha Methodist and it crumbled to 6/20. With an embarrassing score on the cards, Gary Plunkett (27) was finally able to offer some support to star all-rounder Warren Dickson (59) and the two produced a 50-run association.
It was the final notable partnership, and when Dickson was the 10th man out, Maranatha Methodist had only 121 runs on the scoreboard.
