By Gavin Staindl
SLOW outfields hampered by rain did not stop the high scores flowing throughout the Dandenong and Districts top two Turf grades as teams took to the parks to battle out the first of the two-dayers since Christmas.
@BT Sub Sport News:Hallam Kalora Park v St. Mary’s
Hallam Kalora Park’s Cory Booth has put his team into a strong position on day-one of the two-dayer at Hallam Rec Reserve after blasting his team 234.
Only Jesse McCartney (5/50) could stop Booth (94) and Steven Chapman (39) as the pair put on 99 runs in a useful third wicket partnership that saw the home team reach 150 for the loss of two wickets.
McCartney took the pivotal wickets of Booth and Chapman and then proceeded to take another three wickets that took Hallam Kalora Park from 2/152 to 7/192.
A small fight-back by tailender Paul McDonald (28) took the 80 over total to 234.
@BT Sub Sport News:North Dandenong v Berwick
Berwick has sent a message to Turf One teams that they are the side to beat after they snatched first innings points from top four hopefuls North Dandenong at Lois Twohig Reserve.
Winning the toss was the only thing that went right for North Dandenong as they were bowled out for 60.
Jim Davies (6/9) led the charge and by the end of 39 overs, North Dandenong had time in the field to reflect on the five team ducks.
Uncharacteristically, Berwick lost four wickets before they passed North Dandenong’s score and at stumps they are 6/81.
@BT Sub Sport News:Doveton v Springvale South
Ryan Hendy has salvaged a potentially disastrous day for Doveton as they recorded 179 off 74 overs.
Hendy made 77 after Springvale South captain Craig Slocombe recognised the dampness of the pitch and outfield and decided to field.
Slocombe (4/47) benefited most from the decision to bowl while Dillon Fernandesz (3/18) took care of the top order.
Ryan Pearson (29) was the only other Doveton batter that managed to score higher than 14 runs.
At stumps, Springvale South was 0/3 in reply.
@BT Sub Sport News:Buckley Ridges v Narre Warren
Narre Warren has blasted its way to 245 on the back of fifties by Shaun Van Dam and Ryan Christie at Park Oval.
Van Dam (55) and Christie (52) made the bulk of the Narre Warren scoring, but were helped out by opener Nathan King (35) and the middle order.
Westley Nicholas (7/86) was the backbone of the Ridges’ bowling attack and at stumps his team was struggling at 2/20.
@BT Sub Sport News:Turf Two
Springvale South v Heinz Southern District
Springvale South recorded four ducks and four other scores below 10 in their score of 126 at Alex Nelson Reserve.
HSD’s Justin Davies (5/41) and Paul Stockdale (4/29) ripped through the Springvale line-up with Peter Ryan (49), Jackson Sketcher (24) and Chris Nuske (21) the only prominent run scorers.
Meanwhile, a 106-run partnership by Garrick Wiramanaden (49) and Adam Semmens (46) has boosted HSD to 4/112 at stumps.
@BT Sub Sport News:Berwick v Hampton Park
Hampton Park’s Jonathon Rudge has taken eight wickets, that included a hat-trick, as his team rolled to a first innings victory at Arch Brown Reserve.
Rudge blitzed Berwick from the beginning and after he dismissed the final three batters in three balls, Berwick was left stranded on 51.
In response, a 43 by Rhys Fegan and middle order input from Rudge (15 not out) pushed Hampton Park’s total beyond 51 and after 36 overs, the side had declared at 5/164.
Berwick was 1/30 at stumps in their second innings, needing another 27 to avoid an outright loss.
@BT Sub Sport News:Fountain Gate v Maranatha Methodist
After falling to 3/27, Fountain Gate has put on a massive 270 on day one against Maranatha at Strathaird Reserve.
An unbeaten 85 by Bruce Mullen and a 60 by lower order batter Stephen Svaganovic boosted the run rate at alarming rates and only four wickets each to Daryl Turner (4/84) and Paul Goodchild saved Maranatha from further embarrassment.
Maranatha at stumps was struggling at 2/6.
@BT Sub Sport News:Southern Pirates v Buckley Ridges
Buckley Ridges Steve Sheedy has taken seven wickets to lead his team to a day one innings victory over the Pirates at Wachter Reserve.
Sheedy (7/37) finished the Pirates off for 81 with only two batters making a score greater then eight.
Ridges’ Jason Cramer (62 not out) and Richard Hope (42) together cruised past the Southern Pirates score and declared at 7/161 after 39 overs with the Southern Pirates 0/13 at stumps.
@BT Sub Sport News:St Brigids/St Louis v Cranbourne
Due to the ground being unplayable, the St Brigids/St Louis game has been postponed and will be played in a one-day format next week.
