The Berwick boys By Stuart Teather
PERFECT conditions greeted cricketers for round seven of the Dandenong District Cricket Association on Saturday, and the teams provided some thrilling encounters.
Berwick dropped its second successive close game, this time to Parkfield, while in Turf Two, Hampton Park overhauled Buckley Ridges in a tense battle, winning with just six balls to spare.
@BT Sub Sport News:TURF ONE
Narre Warren v Hallam-Kalora Park
Hallam-Kalora Park cruised to victory against Narre Warren at Narre’s Sweeney Reserve on Saturday.
The visitors batted first and Steven Chapman stepped forward as chief run-maker, knocking up 64 from the top of the order. It was the best performance in an otherwise quiet batting roster, with the side reaching 8/150 off 40 overs, thanks in part to Wendell Perumal’s bowling performance, in which he took 3/22 off eight overs.
But Perumal could not match his efforts with the bat, falling for a duck at the start of the innings. In fact, only two Narre Warren batsmen made double figures – John Simpson (14) and Keith Perumal (10) – as the side slumped to be all out for 87.
@BT Sub Sport News:Doveton v Springvale South
Top side Springvale South put the boot into Doveton at the Doves’ Robinson Reserve.
Springvale South’s opening pair of Steven Masterson (63) and Rory Ingram (26) put on a healthy 73-run partnership to kickstart the innings. The batsmen kept the scoreboard ticking and the side reached 4/177 off 40 overs, leaving the Doves with plenty to do.
The home side slipped early and never recovered, losing three early wickets in the chase. When Suranjith Silva struck for his first wicket, the Doves languished at 6/77, but Silva did not let up, claiming three of the next four wickets to sink Doveton.
Silva was the pick of the bowlers with 4/12 off 5.4 overs, along with Tim Ford (2/23).
@BT Sub Sport News:Cranbourne v Buckley Ridges
Cranbourne is still searching for its first win of the season after falling to an accomplished Buckley Ridges at Casey Fields Oval.
Cranbourne bowled first and struck twice early, removing Paul Rudd (1) and Johann Brohier (4) in quick succession before Daniel Watson (49) and captain William Butler (55) combined to steady the ship, eventually helping the visitors to 6/224 after 40 overs.
In reply, Cranbourne was impressive in the face of quality bowling, and middle-order batsmen Daniel Hunt (57) and Jason Hameeteman (44) gave their side a fighting chance. But after starring with the bat, Buckley Ridges’ Butler was also impressive with the ball, picking up 4/44 off five overs to have Cranbourne all out for 198.
@BT Sub Sport News:Berwick v Parkfield
Berwick’s season is on the ropes after it dropped its second successive game, this time to Parkfield at Berwick’s Arch Brown Reserve. It was another close game for Berwick, which fell just eight runs short in the run chase after Parkfield had posted a competitive 8/170, with Daniel Ferguson (66 not out) boosting the total from No. 8.
Berwick’s bowlers were on song, particularly William Carr (3/32 off eight) and Alex Roberts (2/16 off eight).
Berwick matched Parkfield’s run-rate throughout the innings but ran out of wickets and fell just short. Berwick dropped to seventh on the ladder, while Parkfield jumped into second position, half a game clear of Buckley Ridges in third place.
@BT Sub Sport News:TURF TWO
Mordialloc v Fountain Gate
Fountain Gate cruised to victory against Mordialloc at Mordialloc’s Ben Kavanagh Reserve on Saturday.
Fountain Gate’s bowlers ripped through the home side’s batting line-up early in the day, holding the side to 105 off 28.2 overs. Nick Scanlon (3/25), Robert Mullen (2/19) and James Haupt (2/27) were the chief wicket-takers in the rout.
It then took the visitors just 22.1 overs to chase down the total, bringing about an abrupt end to the day’s play.
@BT Sub Sport News:Maranatha Methodist v HSD
HSD continued its hot streak in Turf Two, this time knocking off Maranatha Methodist at Strathaird Reserve.
Maranatha batted first and captain Brett Ernst helped his side to a competitive total, posting 87 as the team reached 5/207 off the 40 overs.
But HSD has proved all season that it can chase down big totals and it did so again on Saturday, cruising past the score with six overs to spare. Asela Jayasinghe (75) collected his second successive half-century and received good support from Scott Brandon (39) and Adam Semmens (38).
@BT Sub Sport News:Buckley Ridges v Hampton Park
Hampton Park picked up its second win of the season, against Buckley Ridges at Park Oval.
Buckley Ridges was impressive with the bat, and Troy Aust (68 not out) and William Brown (38 not out) ensured their bowlers would have something to defend, guiding their team to 5/207. But, Hampton Park timed its chase to perfection, overhauling the total with an over to spare.
The chase was not without its scares, as the side lost eight wickets before holding on to claim a vital win.
