Doveton captain-coach Glen Lothian, who promoted himself to the top of the order, produced 42 vital runs against Cranbourne at Casey Fields on the weekend.By Marc McGowan and Paul Pickering
RAIN interrupted the weekend’s Dandenong District Cricket Association action, but significant play was still possible as the finals race heated up.
Berwick and HSD – the frontrunners in Turf One and Turf Two respectively – were magnificent as they presented their premiership credentials again.
But there was a surprise as Mordialloc took it right up to HSD’s main challenger Hallam-Kalora Park.
@BT Sub Sport News:TURF ONE
Cranbourne v Doveton
Doveton battled through a tough start to grab the ascendancy against Cranbourne at Casey Fields on Saturday.
With both sides struggling near the bottom of the ladder the game took on extra prominence and the Eagles made early inroads.
Brad Downe and Rob Turner fell cheaply before the Doves dug in.
Captain-coach Glen Lothian (42 runs), who promoted himself into the opening slot after batting at number 11 for most of the season and Ryan Hendy (34) made good hands as Doveton moved to 4/96.
Corrie and Nathan Wilson carried on their good work with an unbeaten 84-run stand to leave the Doves at 4/180 after 59 overs.
Cranbourne captain Ross Woodall (1/14) led four single-wicket takers.
@BT Sub Sport News:Dandenong West v Berwick
Despite stumbling late in the day, Berwick took the honours against Dandenong West at Greaves Reserve on the weekend.
The Bears bowled the Bulls out for 170, with Adam Watson (3/26), Ryan Crawford (2/21) and Alex Roberts (2/24) doing the bulk of the damage.
Other than Anthony Brannan’s 78, it was a dismal scorecard for Dandenong West, as only four players reached double figures.
In reply, Berwick’s openers were dismissed for just a run between them, leaving the Bears in trouble at 2/8.
But as they have done all season, Roberts (20 not-out) and Gavan Wills (three not-out) steadied the ship and should set the foundations for an easy victory this Saturday.
Berwick will resume at 2/27.
@BT Sub Sport News:Narre Warren v North Dandenong
North Dandenong travelled to Narre Warren’s Sweeney Reserve to face a Magpies side that has gone ice cold after a promising start to the summer.
But the home side struck first and often, with John Simpson (4/46), Dave Wheeler (3/39) and Chris Jarrett (3/45) all revelling in the humid conditions to share the spoils. While North Dandy’s total of 184 looks within the Magpies’ reach, the equation would have been significantly better if not for a classy knock from in-form number four Carman Mapatuna (86 not-out).
In reply, Narre Warren limped to 2/27 at stumps to set up an intriguing climax this weekend.
@BT Sub Sport News:TURF TWO
Fountain Gate v Hampton Park
In the battle of the also-rans, English all-rounder Doug Mulholland has given Hampton Park control over Fountain Gate at Max Pawsey Reserve on the weekend.
Mulholland smashed 143 and wicketkeeper Stephen Boltong walloped 97 to steer the Redbacks to a mammoth 9/360 from their 80 overs.
There were only cameo batting displays from the other Hampton Park bladesmen, but they were enough to frustrate the Fountain Gate attack.
The home side tried nine bowlers in a desperate attempt to quell the flow of runs, but only Matthew Maxwell (2/27) and Daniel Bartlett (2/53) could hold their heads high.
@BT Sub Sport News:Mordialloc v Hallam-Kalora Park
The mighty Hallam-Kalora Park batting line-up was cut down to size by finals contender Mordialloc at Ben Kavanagh Reserve on Saturday.
Nick Connellan (5/61) was the chief destroyer, but had strong support from opening bowler Travis Campbell (3/36) and Niranjan Kumar (2/6), as Hallam-Kalora Park was all-out for just 137.
But what was shaping as a perfect day for the Bloodhounds suffered a slight dampener when Kumar and Matthew Glayzer were removed for ducks.
Mordialloc finished the day at 2/5 from two overs to leave the match in the balance.
@BT Sub Sport News:Maranatha Methodist v Springvale South
Maranatha Methodist has a tough ask in front of it after day one of its clash with Springvale South at Strathaird Reserve on the weekend.
The Bloods cracked 9/234 off 68 overs before declaring to have a late crack at the home team.
Christos Pasnin (64) was the batting side’s best and Dylan Quirk complimented his performance with an undefeated 34.
Darryl Turner (3/57) and Gary Plunkett (3/68) toiled hard for Maranatha Methodist.
Needing a good beginning, Maranatha Methodist did exactly the opposite, collapsing to 2/30 at stumps.
@BT Sub Sport News:North Dandenong v HSD
HSD’s 14-point break at the top of the standings may grow further after a dominant display against North Dandenong at Lois Twohig Reserve on Saturday.
The bottom-placed visitors chose to bat first, but disaster soon struck when they lost a wicket without scoring before being dismissed for 103 from a painstaking 50.1 overs.
If not for Wayne Taylor’s (30) late hitting, the total could have been worse.
Paul Stockdale (4/17) was both economical and damaging, while Michael Davies (3/5) gorged on the tail order.
There were no such worries for HSD and it did not lose its first wicket until 88 runs had been racked up.
The title favourites roared to 1/134 by stumps, with Trevor Davies (52) and Ben Doran (33) the not-out batsmen.
Stockdale completed a brilliant day by totting up 43 with the willow before being bowled by Blair Reynolds.
