Doveton captain Brad Downe followed up his 81 with the bat by claiming a wicket with the ball, but his side had to settle for a draw against Buckley Ridges.
By Marc McGowan
In Turf One and Two action, only Fountain Gate and Maranatha Methodist were able to register six points.
@BT Sub Sport News:TURF ONE
Buckley Ridges drew Doveton
DOVETON settled for a draw in its evenly poised contest against Buckley Ridges at Park Oval on Saturday.
The Doves batted the previous weekend and put together a competitive 247 against the second-placed Ridges, with captain courageous Brad Downe (81) showing his class once again.
Buckley Ridges resumed at 0/17 after being sent in for six overs before stumps on day one after bowling Doveton out.
The solid start dissipated quickly when Brad Polson (1/52), Nathan Wilson (1/14) and Downe (1/17) claimed a wicket each to restrict it to 3/59.
They were the final wickets to fall, as Basil Hobkirk (42 not out) found a willing ally in Paul Rudd (16 not out) and the pair took the score to 3/100 before rain intervened.
@BT Sub Sport News:Narre Warren drew Southern Pirates
NARRE Warren was forced to share the points with the Southern Pirates at Sweeney Reserve at the weekend.
Despite bowling its opponents out for a meagre 181 and the Magpies moving to 1/16 by the end of day one, rain prevented any play this past weekend.
Narre Warren would have recorded its third straight victory had it chased down the Pirates’ total.
@BT Sub Sport News:Cranbourne drew Keysborough
CRANBOURNE will be cursing the rain after having to accept a draw against Keysborough at Casey Fields on Saturday.
It means the Eagles have fallen further behind the fourth-placed Springvale South that managed to capture the six points against woeful St Mary’s.
Cranbourne smacked a commanding 286 on day one, but could only send down two overs at the Keysborough batsmen on the weekend.
Keysborough finished on 0/6, with Buddhika Abayasiriwardana (four not out) and Chris David (two not out) the undefeated batsmen.
@BT Sub Sport News:North Dandenong drew Berwick
ONLY the weather could stop Berwick from completing its thumping of North Dandenong at Lois Twohig Reserve on the weekend.
The Bears romped through the North Dandenong batting line-up for 131 and then slashed its way to 5/120 off just 30 overs the previous Saturday.
Berwick emerged buoyant at stumps after shattering the hopes of yet another challenger, but was unable to finish off the rout when rain resulted in no play on day two.
@BT Sub Sport News:TURF TWO
Fountain Gate d Springvale South
FOUNTAIN Gate was only able to claim the first-innings’ points it gained the previous weekend when its battle with Springvale South was washed out at Max Pawsey Reserve on Saturday.
It earned a 62-run lead after the first innings by scoring 134 compared to Springvale South’s pathetic 72.
Fountain Gate also had its opponent struggling in its second dig at 3/23, but the rain prevented any continuation of the game on day two.
@BT Sub Sport News:Maranatha Methodist d Doveton North
MARANATHA Methodist smashed Doveton North by seven wickets at Strathaird Reserve on Saturday.
While most teams were washed out, Maranatha Methodist resumed on 2/79 with a further 116 runs required to pick up the six points.
It lost its third wicket at 85, but stormed to victory from there on the back of an unbeaten 130-run partnership between Nathan Monk (70 not out) and captain Andrew Cooper (60 not out).
That took the score along to 3/215 in response to Doveton North’s 194 before the game was called to a close.
@BT Sub Sport News:Hallam Kalora Park drew St Brigid’s-St Louis
HALLAM Kalora Park’s huge batting performance was wasted after rain forced its encounter with St Brigid’s-St Louis to be abandoned at Hallam Recreation Reserve on the weekend.
Boasting arguably the most feared batting line-up in Turf Two, Hallam Kalora Park belted an audacious 6/400 off 65 overs on day one.
Its hold on the match was confirmed when its bowlers snared two cheap wickets before the end of play to have St Brigid’s-St Louis teetering on the edge of defeat.
The game picked up where it ended, with Mark Houeix (1/21) snaring his first wicket of the match shortly after resumption.
That was the final piece of joy for Hallam Kalora Park, with the match being called off following the wicket to leave the visitors on 3/72.
@BT Sub Sport News:Lyndale drew HSD
HSD dropped to fifth spot on the ladder after escaping from its game with Lyndale with a draw at Barry Powell Reserve on the weekend.
Lyndale was on course to annihilate HSD after scoring 206 and then rocking its opponent to the tune of 5/26 by stumps on day one.
Fortunately for HSD, no play was possible this past weekend and it was able to cling onto three valuable points.
@BT Sub Sport News:Hampton Park drew Coomoora
HAMPTON Park joined HSD in rejoicing over the much-needed rain by sharing the points with breakaway leaders Coomoora at Coomoora Reserve on Saturday.
It was in dire straits after day one, at 4/51 in reply to Coomoora’s 241, but the match was abandoned without addition to the scores on the weekend.
