Narre Warren opener Shean Vanderwert was one of only two Magpie batsmen who managed to score double figures in its 96-run loss to North Dandenong at Sweeney Reserve. Picture: Meagan Rogers. By Marc McGowan and Paul Pickering
A SWARM of hungry rivals are set to challenge Dandenong District Cricket Association (DDCA) Turf One and Two leaders Berwick and HSD in the lead-up to the finals.
The Bears did not have it all their own way against Dandenong West on the weekend, while HSD chose batting practice over outright points versus North Dandenong.
They both have comfortable leads in their respective competitions, but defending champion Springvale South and North Dandenong in Turf One, and Hallam-Kalora Park and Springvale South in Turf Two, still have serious title aspirations.
@BT Sub Sport News:TURF ONE
Cranbourne drew with Doveton
Cranbourne narrowly avoided defeat in its clash with Doveton at Casey Fields on Saturday.
Resuming at 4/180, the Doves powered to 273 on the back of several good contributions.
Corrie Wilson (53) and gloveman Mark Mott (45 not-out) led the charge, while star Eagles all-rounder Shane Murdoch (4/76) just missed out on his first ‘five-for’ in the DDCA.
In reply, Cranbourne was never in the hunt, falling to 3/17 before captain-coach Ross Woodall (51) and Murdoch (26) steadied the ship.
But their efforts looked to have been undone when the Eagles slipped to 7/121.
Fortunately, Matthew Moore (20 not-out) and Rodger Alister (14 not-out) fought off Doveton’s attack as Cranbourne hung on to finish at 7/157.
North Dandenong d Narre Warren
Runs proved hard to come by for Narre Warren at Sweeney Reserve on the weekend, as the Magpies loped agonisingly to an all-out total of 88 from 59 overs.
So North Dandenong, having posted what looked to be a par score of 184 the previous weekend, ran out comfortable first-innings winners with time to burn.
The undisputed star for North Dandy was Carman Mapatuna, who followed up an unbeaten knock of 84 with figures of 3/15 from 12 overs.
The win allowed North Dandenong to retain third spot on the ladder, while the sluggish Magpies have slipped to eighth with four consecutive losses.
Berwick d Dandenong West
Another strong alliance between Alex Roberts and Gavan Wills guided Berwick to a four-wicket victory over Dandenong West at Greaves Reserve on Saturday.
Having bowled the Bulls out for 170 on day one, the Bears entered the weekend at 2/27.
Roberts (51) and Wills (45) went straight to work, taking the score to 2/82 before the former was out off the bowling of Glen Scales (3/57).
Roberts moved his season aggregate to 570 runs – just 77 from equalling Buckley Ridges batsman Jude Fernando’s 1995-96 Turf One home-and-away record of 647.
There were a few stumbles along the way, but Ash Henry’s 63 ensured Berwick maintained its hold on top position.
Matthew Sofoulis (3/19) performed well for Dandenong West, but the Bears managed 253.
@BT Sub Sport News:TURF TWO
Hampton Park d Fountain Gate
While it did not have a major impact on the Turf Two standings, there was plenty of entertainment as Hampton Park beat Fountain Gate by 15 runs at Max Pawsey Reserve on the weekend.
Set a huge target of 360 to chase down, Fountain Gate began slowly, but barged its way into contention with a host of great unions.
Robert Mullen (69) top-scored and was joined in the runs by Nick Scanlon (59), Robert King (51), Cory Wilson (42) and Luke Ross (42).
From 2/55, Fountain Gate grafted its way to 3/167 then 6/308 to move within sight of success.
But the Redbacks’ bowlers kicked into gear, with Tim Fathers (3/78) claiming two important scalps to help bowl Fountain Gate out for 345.
Hallam-Kalora Park d Mordialloc
A sublime bowling performance delivered Hallam-Kalora Park a magnificent 37-run triumph over Mordialloc at Ben Kavanagh Reserve on Saturday.
The Bloodhounds took it right up to second-placed Hallam-Kalora Park, dismissing it for just 137 the previous weekend.
However, after losing two late wickets before stumps, Mordialloc soon found itself in serious trouble at 4/7, with Leigh Booth (3/18) pocketing three of the victims.
Bloodhound Tim Richardson (35) remained undefeated at the top of the order, but once he departed it was 7/54 and then 8/54 soon after.
Ironically, it was Mordialloc’s tailenders that offered resistance – and hope – moving the score to 8/81 and then 9/100, but the task proved too much.
Cory Booth (3/7) and Lee Brown (3/22) starred with the leather.
Springvale South d Maranatha Methodist
Maranatha Methodist pushed Springvale South to the brink, but wound up 26-run losers at Strathaird Reserve on the weekend.
Struggling at 2/30 at stumps in response to the Bloods’ 9/234, Maranatha Methodist overcame an early wicket to move to 3/113.
Unfortunately, Gary Plunkett’s (37) and captain Nathan Monk’s partnership ended on that score, but Maranatha Methodist battled on.
Englishman Paul Goodchild (42) was a rock in the middle order and found a willing ally in number-10 batsman Richard Wiggs (24), with Maranatha Methodist slumping to 8/175.
But Goodchild was out soon after and, despite some late hitting from Wiggs, Springvale South knocked over the home side for 208.
North Dandenong v HSD
Rather than chase outright points, HSD went on a run-spree after having already earned a nine-wicket win over North Dandenong at Lois Twohig Reserve on Saturday.
The runway ladder-leader destroyed North Dandenong for 103 before surpassing the meagre total with only Paul Stockdale (43) back in the pavilion.
Trevor Davies (138) clobbered his second ton of the year, Ben Doran smacked 82 and wicketkeeper Scott Brandon (58) and Adam Semmens (53 not-out) collected half-centuries.
The game came to a merciless end after HSD had amassed 7/462 off 85 overs.
