By Stuart Teather
THE Dandenong District Cricket Association’s season began in style on Saturday, with some big day one scores setting matches up for exciting finishes this weekend.
The round was not without drama, and the Cranbourne v North Dandenong Turf One match, and the Maranatha Methodist v Lyndale and Buckley Park v Berwick Turf Two clashes were postponed due to heavy rain on Friday. These matches will be played as one-dayers this weekend.
There were some outstanding individual performances throughout the weekend, but none more so than Dandenong West’s Andrew Harry, who bowled a hat trick in his opening spell of the year.
TURF ONE
Berwick v Buckley Ridges
Reigning premier Berwick started its season tentatively, posting 9/228 off 80 overs in its clash against Buckley Ridges at Brown Reserve.
Justin Stanton (18) and Brad Francis (33) set up the innings with a 46-run partnership, but it was Paul Evans (62) who led the batting charge.
James Prendergast (34 not out), batting at number 10, provided some crucial late-innings runs to help his side to a strong position.
Former captain Alex Roberts hit 29 in his first game for Berwick since almost signing with Buckley Ridges, before Benjamin Watson claimed his prized scalp.
Shane D’Rozario was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3/55 off his 21 overs, and was well supported by Watson, Westley Nicholas and Anthony Clarke-Bruce, who took two wickets each.
Hallam-Kalora Park v Doveton
Newly promoted Hallam-Kalora Park made a triumphant entrance to Turf One competition, piling on 289 against Doveton at Robinson Reserve.
Last year’s Turf Two premiers had healthy contributions from its openers, with Leigh Booth (38) and Michael Torcasio (21) providing a solid foundation for the innings.
But, it was Nicholas Cox’s (104) day, with the number five batsman combining well with Steven Chapman (38) in the middle order.
Corrie Wilson played a big role for the Doves in keeping the total down, picking up 5/65 including the top three batsmen, while new coach Matt Hutchinson had a tough day, with 1/91 off 23 overs.
Doveton were 0/2 in reply after one over before stumps were called.
Narre Warren v Keysborough
Narre Warren made the best possible start to the DDCA season, belting 7/413 against Keysborough at Sweeny Reserve.
Former captain Wendell Perumal relished playing without the added pressure of leading the side with 154, an epic innings that included 23 boundaries and a six.
Perumal found plenty of support in Shean Vanderwert (55), brother Keith Perumal (47) and John Simpson (39).
Perumal and Vanderwert set up the total with a strong 154-run second-wicket partnership, after opener Ruwantha Fernandopulle (22) fell early.
Keysborough’s new opening bowler Michael Rengarajah finally scored Perumal’s wicket on the way to figures of 2/69 off 12.2 overs, and Andrew Chapman was the most economical with 1/80 off 25 overs.
TURF TWO
Springvale South v HSD
Springvale South’s Turf Two team limped to a paltry 109 against last year’s runner-up HSD at Alex Nelson Reserve.
Despite losing two of its best bowlers in the off-season, HSD blitzed through Springvale South’s lineup, with Ben Doran and James Van Elewoud collecting three wickets each.
It took HSD just 42 overs to take the 10 wickets, despite some stubborn resistance from the tail, with Brad Sessler (18) and Timothy Kelson (12) showing some grit.
Springvale South emulated HSD’s performance with the ball and at one stage had the side 3/23 in reply, before Van Elewoud found his rhythm at the crease.
Having already starred with the ball, Van Elewoud continued his good form with the bat, fighting his way to 91 not-out.
He had little support from his teammates, however, until James Alexander made his way to the crease, and the pair put on an unbeaten 74 run partnership for the seventh wicket.
HSD was at 6/139 when stumps were called.
Dandenong West v Fountain Gate
Dandenong West’s Andrew Harry pulled off a remarkable feat, bowling a hat trick to pull his team out of a hole against Fountain Gate.
Impressively, Harry’s hat trick included the wickets of Fountain Gate’s two openers, Nicholas Scanlon (4) and Jarryd Murrian (15).
Harry had Scanlon caught, picked up Murrian the next ball lbw, and then clean-bowled Robert King for a golden duck to complete the hat trick.
Earlier, Dandenong West was held to just 168, thanks largely to Scanlon’s efforts with the new ball, where the fast bowler picked up 6/37 including Fountain Gate’s top four batsmen.
In reply, Fountain Gate struggled to 6/44, and Harry finished the day with incredible figures of 5/15 off four overs.
As stumps were called on day one, the highest scoring batsman for either team was Dandenong West’s Nathan Goodes (33) — who batted at number 11.
Mordialloc v Hampton Park
Hampton Park went into bat against Mordialloc at Booth Reserve, and the side took its time, eventually reaching 8/201 at the end of the 80 overs.
Despite the slow run-rate, all but one of the dismissed batsmen reached double figures, with Danny Cortese (33) and new import Englishman Jonathon Rudge (30) leading the way.
The leading scorer on the scoresheet was the extras, with Mordialloc’s bowlers conceding 36 for the innings, with byes (25) proving costly. It was a Campbell affair with the bowlers, with Travis Campbell picking up 3/45, Michael 3/44 and Matthew 2/31.
Hampton Park will be eager to bowl this weekend, to see how 19-year-old Rudge handles the new ball for the first time.
