Narre Warren produced an upset victory over Springvale South, but Magpie Shane Simpson endured a miserable afternoon after being run out for a duck. Picture: Meagan Rogers.By Marc McGowan and Paul Pickering
THE Dandenong District Cricket Association (DDCA) is set to reach a crescendo as several teams jostle for the last few finals spots in their respective grades.
The final round that begins this weekend, involves a host of mouth-watering clashes, with eight teams still in contention in Turf One and Two.
@BT Sub Sport News:St Mary’s d Berwick
Brilliant innings from two St Mary’s stars consigned Berwick to a shock four-wicket defeat at Carroll Reserve on Saturday.
Opener Troy Cashman (96 runs) and number-three batsman Luke Byron (96) just fell short of centuries to lead St Mary’s past the Bears’ total of 6/285.
Their 90-run union put the home team in the impregnable position of 1/156 before Cashman was adjudged lbw to Berwick leg-spinner Ash Henry.
Byron held the innings together and St Mary’s received cameos from several players to wind up 6/290 in an impressive performance.
After failing to reach double digits with the bat for the first time this season, Ash Roberts was his club’s best bowler with 3/35.
@BT Sub Sport News:Cranbourne d Buckley Ridges
An inspired bowling display delivered Cranbourne a vital 25-run victory over fellow finals contender Buckley Ridges at Casey Fields on the weekend.
The win, along with the upset defeat of North Dandenong, pulled the Eagles within six points of the top four.
The Eagles have their big-name players to thank for their latest success, with Matthew Moore (4/32), Shane Murdoch (3/56) and captain-coach Ross Woodall (2/16) producing the goods.
Glen Rudd (50) gave the Ridges a solid enough start, but a steady stream of wickets prevented it from gaining any momentum.
With Cranbourne, that made 193 in its innings, pouring on the pressure Buckley relented for 168.
@BT Sub Sport News:Doveton d Coomoora
Coomoora will not be playing finals in its return season in Turf One, after Doveton comfortably overhauled the Roos on Saturday.
Last year’s Turf Two premiers were always going to struggle to defend a total of 132 and so it proved as the Doves achieved their target with six wickets down.
Doveton’s score of 182 was headlined by contributions from prolific all-rounder Brad Downe (31) and Sean Paynter (27 not-out), while Carlos Hereford (4/58) and Rizan Mawzoon (2/48) toiled manfully for the Roos.
Locked in ninth and 10th spots with 24 points, both Doveton and Coomoora are still vulnerable to relegation if Keysborough and Dandenong West can win their last games.
@BT Sub Sport News:Narre Warren d Springvale South
A stunning double act from John Simpson (105 not-out) and Shean Vanderwert (90) guided Narre Warren to a rousing away victory over reigning premier Springvale South at Alex Nelson Reserve on the weekend.
In pursuit of the Bloods’ total of 204, the pair combined – with the game in the balance – to usher the Magpies to 4/256 before Vanderwert’s dismissal brought the day to a premature end.
Simpson’s ton was his second of the season, while Vanderwert registered his highest score of the summer.
Springvale South quick Nick Bole-Brown was the only multiple wicket-taker with 2/66.
The Bloods are now six points – and significant percentage – adrift of ladder-leader Berwick.
To have any chance of securing regular season honours, the defending champs would have to crush Buckley Ridges at Park Oval over the next fortnight.
@BT Sub Sport News:TURF TWO
Hallam-Kalora Park d St Brigid’s-St Louis
Hallam-Kalora Park survived another challenge to consolidate second position in the Turf Two standings at Bondi Oval on Saturday.
St Brigid’s-St Louis had thrown everything at Hallam-Kalora Park the previous weekend, setting a competitive 242 before restricting the visitors to 2/12 at stumps.
But Englishman Steve Chapman (47) and the brilliant Leigh Booth (88) handed the advantage back to Hallam-Kalora Park on resumption.
And with John Hammond (36) back on deck, and contributions from James Tincknell (35 not-out) and Gary Davidson (30), Hallam-Kalora Park charged to victory.
Cave opening bowler Maurice Baker (2/42) was valiant in defeat, but Hallam-Kalora Park finished on 7/281.
@BT Sub Sport News:Berwick d Fountain Gate
Facing complete embarrassment, Fountain Gate managed to stave off outright defeat against Berwick at Arch Brown Reserve on the weekend.
It still did not make up for its pitiful first innings of 31, but Fountain Gate’s second-dig performance of 5/285 was a vast improvement.
The Bears batted first in the encounter and, after a severe struggle, declared at 9/153.
Then came the disastrous Fountain Gate display, but with Robert Mullen (87) leading the way, the visitors hit back.
A couple more batsmen made starts before stand-in captain Stephen White (47 not-out) and Luke Ross (44 not-out) ended the match with an unbeaten 81-run alliance.
@BT Sub Sport News:HSD d Springvale South
The early troubles seemed an eternity away after HSD pummelled 346 against Springvale South at Reedy Reserve on Saturday.
The breakaway leader then stormed towards maximum points before falling five wickets short as time ran out.
The Bloods managed a meager 163 in their first innings, but stunned HSD by sending three of its batsmen back to the pavilion with just 16 runs on the board.
That was the final time Springvale South was in the game as the in-form Adam Semmens (102) and Trevor Davies (55) grabbed the ascendancy for HSD.
Their 109-run partnership set the foundation for further runs and classy all-rounder James van Elewoud (72) and master blaster Scott Brandon (58) took over the reins once the duo departed.
With a 183-run lead, HSD’s bowlers ran through the Bloods’ line-up, but Springvale South just hung on to end up on 5/122.
@BT Sub Sport News:Southern Pirates d Hampton Park
One wicket stood between the Southern Pirates and an outright win over Hampton Park at Booth Reserve on the weekend.
Two vital team-leading knocks from Matthew Bartlett (26 not-out and 20) saved the contest for the Redbacks.
Hampton Park was dismissed for 106 in its first innings and the Pirates, after falling to 4/60 at stumps on day one, scored 211 in reply. Then came the collapse as the Redbacks slumped to 5/55.
Some surprising resistance kicked in from Hampton Park, but, after losing two wickets on 98, the pressure returned.
There were further tense moments as two more players came and went, but the Redbacks ultimately finished on 9/110.
@BT Sub Sport News:Maranatha Methodist d North Dandenong
Maranatha Methodist looks to have fought off relegation after its 74-run thumping of winless North Dandenong at Lois Twohig Reserve on Saturday.
In a match-up of Turf Two’s worst teams, Maranatha Methodist jumped out of the blocks well to set its struggling opponent a challenging run chase of 223.
North Dandenong made a strong start, with openers Stefan de Silva (37) and Craig Leonard (33), but there was little else after the pair.
Blair Reynolds scored 25 at first drop, but no other batsman accumulated more than 17 thereafter as the home side crumbled for 149.
Maranatha Methodist all-rounder Darryl Turner was impressive with figures of 4/26.
