Endeavour Hills fast bowler Simon Black returned figures of 3/14 off nine overs against Noble Park at Noble Park Reserve on Saturday.By Marc McGowan
ENDEAVOUR Hills moved closer to a Victorian Sub District Cricket Association finals berth after its one-wicket triumph over Noble Park at Noble Park Reserve on Saturday.
The local derby ebbed and flowed all day before the Hills squeaked past the Bulls courtesy of the last-wicket partnership of injured wicketkeeper Jason Williams and 16-year-old sensation Matthew Aslett.
Williams was originally not going to bat after being struck accidentally with the bat of opposing gloveman Andrew Brown during Noble Park’s innings.
The incident forced him off the field and he required stitches near one of his eyes and his nose.
English star Karl Turner took over Williams’ role behind the stumps and a supreme bowling performance by Endeavour Hills restricted the Bulls to just 155.
The stars with the leather were Simon Black (3/14 off nine overs) and captain-coach Ben Maroney (2/32 off nine overs).
Noble Park attacked Aslett (2/40 off seven overs) early, but he returned at the end of the innings to claim two wickets and stop the Bulls from making a late flurry.
Needing just over three runs an over to register victory, the Hills was quickly on the back foot.
Bulls’ quick Lance Baptist firstly uprooted the stumps of young Endeavour Hills’ opener Ryan Pearson for a duck and by the time Maroney was caught behind, the Hills had collapsed to 4/34.
The fightback began when Dom Paynter (51) joined the defiant Justin Merlino (44 runs) at the crease.
Their brilliant 81-run alliance looked to have restored Endeavour Hills’ stranglehold on the contest.
Merlino was finally stumped off the bowling off Sanjeewa Weerasinghe (3/51 off nine overs) with the score on 115, but Kane Gillespie carried on his efforts.
Unfortunately the wheels came off for the Hills when it was cruising at 5/132 and requiring a meagre 24 runs for success.
Paynter departed on that total and Matthew Hutchinson, Gillespie and Black soon followed to suddenly leave Endeavour Hills 9/149.
Once again Aslett was entrusted at the pointy end of the innings and despite some nervous moments he combined with Williams to steer the Hills to an important win.
Aslett produced the winning runs with an edge that flew through the slips to the boundary.
While Maroney was pleased to collect the points, he was disappointed the result was so close after they had put themselves in such a strong position.
“We were doing it comfortably then we played some wild shots towards the end,” he said.
One area of concern for Endeavour Hills is the fitness of Turner, who was unable to bowl due to a suspected side strain – a problem that may plague him for the rest of the season.
“Karl won’t bowl for quite a while until we get it properly assessed. I’m not going to risk him with him having a Durham contract,” Maroney said.
With an inviting draw over the next few weeks, the Hills will look to book a place in the top four.
Endeavour Hills’ next assignment is a two-day fixture against lowly Croydon at Sydney Pargeter Reserve from this Saturday at 1pm.
In other news at the club, its round-seven game against Sunshine, which was rained out before Christmas, will be played on Sunday, 11 February.
