By Gavin Staindl
IN one of the highest scoring rounds recorded in the Dandenong and District Cricket Association Turf One and Turf Two grades, three Turf One players all became the three highest scorers for the season – a including North Dandenong’s Carman Mapatuna who made 207 not out, a new DDCA record for an individual score.
Meanwhile, three teams recorded scores of 300-plus that included the two highest team totals of the season.
With Doveton, Buckley Ridges, Parkfield and Springvale South all fighting for the two remaining Turf One finals positions, the weekend’s action saw plenty of hard hitting from teams trying to get that extra percentage boost.
Meanwhile, the battle between Heinz Southern Districts and Lyndale for fourth position in Turf Two rages on.
Turf One
@BT Sub Sport News:Mordialloc v Doveton
Heading into their final match, Doveton must either win and wait on the results of other matches or win outright to progress into the finals, and by the looks of it captain Matt Hutchinson has decided to go for the outright win.
Playing with an aggressive bat from the start, Doveton declared at 7/276 after only 66 overs and made headway with the ball by restricting Mordialloc to 3/52 at Ben Kavanagh Reserve.
The potential for an outright win was set up by Brad Downe (49) and Ryan Hendy (54) who dragged his team from 2/30 to 2/100 with a barrage of boundaries. Madura Weerasinghe Silva (57 not out) and Hutchinson (41) then finished off the innings with some hard hitting at the end.
@BT Sub Sport News:Berwick v St Mary’s
It is party time for Berwick as they continue to enjoy the spoils that come with securing top spot in the league’s top Turf grade. Berwick belted St Mary’s bowlers around the Arch Brown Reserve and after 80 overs they finished at 7/359.
St Mary’s bowlers Agnelo D’Mello and Jesse McCartney both took two wickets – but the day belonged to Berwick, and specifically captain Paul Evans who made 135 runs at a run rate of better than a run a ball.His 23 boundaries along with Brad Francis’ 76 were the backbone of what was an enjoyable day at the crease for the home side.
@BT Sub Sport News:North Dandenong v Narre Warren
A record score by Carman Mapatuna and an unbeaten 349-run partnership between Mapatuna and Craig Gunawardana had DDCA enthusiasts jumping for the record books as North Dandenong finished on 4/384 at the end of 80 overs at Lois Twohig Reserve.
Mapatuna’s score of 207 not out passed Craig Slocombe’s 202 from four years ago as the highest Turf One DDCA individual score.
Mapatuna’s 349-run partnership with Gunawardana’s (135 not out) was the highest partnership this season and more importantly the pair’s contribution dragged North Dandenong from a seemingly disastrous position at 4/35 to a handy 4/384 – the highest total for any Turf One team this season.
@BT Sub Sport News:Hallam-Kalora Park v Keysborough
Needing a win to guarantee a top-two finish, Hallam-Kalora Park restricted Keysborough to 172 on a fast pitch at Hallam Recreation Reserve.
Hallam’s James Hawley took 6/39 off 16 overs to remove the top six batters for only 50 runs. A saving 69 by eighth batter Andrew Chapman was the only upside for Keysborough.At stumps, Hallam-Kalora Park was 2/57.
Turf Two
@BT Sub Sport News:Southern Pirates v Hampton Park
An aggressive 94 by Southern Pirates opener Chris Perry led his team to 228 and into a commanding position at Wachter Reserve. Perry blasted seven sixes and seven fours on his way to 94 before Hampton Park’s Trevor Lacey (5/3) wrestled back momentum by joining Nathan Allen (2/32) to dismiss the final six wickets for 46 runs. In reply Hampton Park was 4/73.
@BT Sub Sport News:Buckley Ridges v Cranbourne
Buckley Ridges gave itself a strong chance to reach second position on the ladder after it won the toss and made 210 after 80 overs at Park Oval. Shaun Ferreira (63) led the batting for the Ridges but a game-saving innings with the ball by Cranbourne’s Rob Cleland (5/26) has given the Cranbourne batters a chance to chase down the target.
A win for any side will mean they shall earn the double chance come finals time while the loser will have to face off in the elimination final.
@BT Sub Sport News:Fountain Gate v Berwick
Berwick has put together one of their better scores for the summer by making 157 at Max Pawsey Reserve, and in doing so has kept their hopes of avoiding relegation alive.
Berwick, who won the first match of the season but has rolled off nine straight losses since, was boosted by the performance of under-15 all-rounder Ryan Williamson (43). Fountain Gate’s Andrew Lee (4/24) cleaned up the tail and his team is 1/19 at stumps.
@BT Sub Sport News:Lyndale v Maranatha Methodist
Maranatha Methodist has left open the door for relegation after it made 98 against Lyndale who were also in desperate need of a win.Maranatha elected to bat but struggled as Lyndale, who were tussling with HSD for the remaining finals position, restricted the flow of runs. If Maranatha loses and Berwick wins, Maranatha will be relegated to Turf Three. At the moment, Lyndale are 4/43 in response.
@BT Sub Sport News:Heinz Southern Districts v Dandenong West
Dandenong West shot a bullet into the heart of the HSD finals campaign as it posted a season high 8/372 at Greaves Reserve.
Needing a win to guarantee a finals position ahead of Lyndale, HSD was smacked around by Dandenong West opener Greg Siwes who made 188 – that included 21 fours and seven sixes.
Chandana Surige Don also made 44 to help the league leaders post a score that will most likely leave HSD short of a victory and yearning for a Lyndale loss.
