Rob Turner was one of several Doveton batsmen who played solid supporting roles for Wookey Medallist Brad Downe in the Doves’ five-wicket win over Dandenong West at Robinson Reserve on the weekend. Picture: Meagan Rogers.By Marc McGowan and Paul Pickering
DESPITE all the finals and relegation possibilities heading into the last weekend of the Dandenong District Cricket Association regular season, none of them came to fruition.
Nothing changed in the Turf One and Two top four after the 11th and final round of play, with bottom-placed sides Dandenong West and North Dandenong headed to Turf Two and Three respectively.
But Turf One leaders Berwick and Springvale South again showed signs of vulnerability.
Their relative struggles should make for an enticing finals series that could see the end of the two teams’ dominance of recent years.
In Turf Two, HSD continues to motor on undefeated, but Hallam-Kalora Park will be desperate to cap its centenary year with a return to the top grade.
@BT Sub Sport News:TURF ONE
Berwick d Coomoora
Berwick withstood a spirited Coomoora challenge to register an 18-run triumph at Arch Brown Reserve on Saturday.
After posting 6/301 the previous weekend, the Bears looked to be in complete charge of lowly Coomoora, but found their opponent to be much tougher than expected.
Star all-rounder and captain Alex Roberts was unable to bowl due to a knee injury to start the day in bad fashion for Berwick.
But it got worse as Coomoora stormed to 6/273 on the back of strong performances from Matt Wenke (66), David Nutting (55), Asanga Weerasinghe (44) and Andrew King (41).
Facing a shock defeat on the eve of the finals, Ash Henry (5/74) and Cam Henry (2/61) combined – along with a run out – to snuff out Coomoora’s chances.
Coomoora’s final four wickets fell for just 10 runs as it was all-out for 283.
Doveton d Dandenong West
A typically reliable Brad Downe hand at the top of the order helped Doveton dump Dandenong West down to Turf Two at Robinson Reserve on Saturday.
With his team teetering at 2/33 overnight, Wookey Medallist Downe steadied the ship and saw his side home by five wickets.
The Bulls had only set a meagre 127-run target, but with the Doves also facing relegation if they were to lose, the pressure made the total tougher than it appeared.
Doveton all-rounder Ryan Hendy (24) was Downe’s best support while the runs were still required before Nathan Wilson (50) posted a half-century once the chase had already been achieved.
Shannon Marum (2/26) and Glen Scales (2/28) were the best of Dandenong West’s attack.
Keysborough d Narre Warren
Only a miracle outright victory at Sweeney Reserve could have seen Narre Warren leap into the finals fray, as the Magpies chased Keysborough’s total of 258 on Saturday.
And Narre’s hopes were swiftly dashed by Keysborough’s Mahshan Perera, who took 6/31 to reduce the home side to a dismal total of 127.
Only middle order batsman Mark Jensen-Schmidt (39) provided any resistance for the Magpies, as Keysborough claimed a consolation victory to finish in eighth spot on the ladder – one position above Narre Warren.
Cranbourne d Parkfield
It was tough to decide who the winners were at Parkfield Reserve on Saturday, as the home-town Bears (158) narrowly held onto fourth spot despite a loss to Cranbourne (216).
Meanwhile, a win could only lift the Eagles to fifth spot, falling short of their opponents because of an inferior percentage.
For Cranbourne, it was solid contributions from Daniel Diwell (54) and Rodger Alister (45) that orchestrated the final round win, while Hemantha Alles (3/38) was again the best of the Bears bowlers.
@BT Sub Sport News:TURF TWO
Fountain Gate d North Dandenong
It was not pretty, but Fountain Gate managed to hang on by 10 runs against winless North Dandenong at Max Pawsey reserve on the weekend.
A dismal batting display on day one of the clash saw Fountain Gate rolled for 124, but it hit back to have North Dandenong 5/55 at stumps.
But a fighting innings from all-rounder Scott Nicholls (38 not out) on resumption put North Dandenong within sight of victory.
Tailender Alex Kerr (16) proved a great ally, but once he was removed the chase petered out as North Dandenong was dismissed for 114.
Fountain Gate received another bat, with Cory Wilson (31) top-scoring again as it finished on 5/103.
Hallam-Kalora Park d Hampton Park
Hallam-Kalora Park tuned up for the finals with a 128-run steamrolling of Hampton Park at Hallam Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
The Redbacks began day two with the unenviable task of chasing down Hallam-Kalora Park’s 3/274.
They did not start well – slumping to 3/36 – and, with no batsman stepping up to the plate, wickets continued to fall.
Ultimately, captain-coach Doug Mulholland (23) was the best of a bad bunch as Hampton Park was dismissed for 146.
James Tincknell (2/20), Leigh Booth (2/31) and Steve Chapman (2/31) claimed multiple scalps.
HSD d Maranatha Methodist
Another efficient bowling display maintained HSD’s unbeaten status at Strathaird Reserve on the weekend.
Maranatha Methodist became the latest victim, falling 147 runs short of HSD’s commanding score of 358.
Resuming at 1/14, Maranatha Methodist fought hard, but could not match the host of batting contributors that its opposition produced.
Darryl Turner (42), Jeff Thom (34 not out) and captain Nathan Monk (33) battled hard, but could not muster the century that Maranatha Methodist desperately required.
Matt Downe (3/27) and Paul Stockdale (3/67) provided the one-two punch, while youngster Arnold Srinivas (2/26) made an impressive Turf Two debut.
