By Gavin Staindl
IT is take two for the Dandenong and District Cricket Association who will once again be hoping to complete this year’s first two-dayer.
All matches last week were washed out resulting in drawn matches across the board but the DDCA is confident that the Turf One and Turf Two grades will manage to complete the two 80-over days that began last Saturday.
TURF ONE
@BT Sub Sport News:SPRINGVALE SOUTH v BERWICK
A rare batting capitulation from Berwick has gifted Springvale South first innings points and a strong chance to clinch second position on the Turf One ladder.
The Berwick batting line-up, renowned for its patience at the crease, was bowled out for 55 as Springvale took the ascendancy at Alex Nelson Reserve.
Tim Ford (5/17) was the best of the bowlers as Springvale surged to a first innings win.
Springvale was 3/129 at stumps with Suranjith Silva (39) and Ford (three) the not out batters.
@BT Sub Sport News:DOVETON v NORTH DANDENONG
North Dandenong will be calling on all its good form to get it over the line in its do-or-die match against Doveton at Robinson Reserve.
Led by a 50 from Shaun Tongue (57), Doveton reached 201 before it was bowled out by the Maroons in the 76th over.
With recent scores of 7/186 and 215, North Dandy will need to be at its season’s best if it wishes to remain in touch of the final four.
Both sides are stuck one win outside the top four and with two rounds left the game is a must-win if either side is to make finals.
@BT Sub Sport News:ST MARY’S v NARRE WARREN
The inconsistent Narre Warren has put itself in a strong position to avoid relegation by making 193 against St Mary’s at Carroll Reserve.
Jarryd Leworthy (38) was influential early before a 54-run partnership bet-ween lower-order batsmen Dwayne Scott (33) and Ben Carter (58) kicked the score along.
The team that has made scores of 46 and 272 in the last two rounds sits in last place, half a game behind St Mary’s, which also needs a win to secure its place in next year’s Turf One competition.
@BT Sub Sport News:HALLAM KALORA PARK v DANDENONG WEST
The match between Hallam-Kalora Park and Dandenong West will be played as a one-dayer next week after umpires and captains agreed there was too much water on the pitch to make conditions playable.
TURF TWO
@BT Sub Sport News:ST BRIGID’S/ ST LOUIS
St. Brigid’s/ St. Louis’ first innings total of 127 is in danger of being overrun by Narre North at Bondi Oval.
At stumps Narre North was 2/38 and still in with a chance to make finals after Nathan Pulham (4/40) and Stephen Ryan (3/16) removed St Brigid’s/ St Louis after 63 overs.
While St Brigid’s/ St Louis sit equal last, Narre North ise also in need of the six points to boost it to within half a game of the top four.
@BT Sub Sport News:HSD v HAMPTON PARK
HSD is well placed to remain third on the Turf Two ladder after reaching 218 before being bowled out by Hampton Park in the 77th over at Reedy Reserve.
Michael Davies (50) was at his menacing best and was well supported down the order as HSD looked to generate an insurmountable buffer over Hampton Park on the ladder.
Hampton Park is seated one game behind HSD but with one round left following the conclusion of this match, a loss this week would spell the end of Hampton Park’s season.
@BT Sub Sport News:CRANBOURNE v SPRINGVALE SOUTH
A 100-run opening stand has given Cranbourne the ideal start to its crucial clash with Springvale South at Casey Fields.
Openers Jason Hameeteman (65) and Shane Murdoch (62) provided the foundation for Cranbourne’s eventual total of 8/239.
Cranbourne is in fourth position, one game ahead of fifth-placed Springvale South.
A win to Cranbourne would virtually guarantee it a finals berth but if Springvale was to pull off a comeback this week the race to finals will come down to the final round.
@BT Sub Sport News:COOMOORA v SOUTHERN PIRATES
Coomoora is 18 runs away from securing a comfortable victory over the Southern Pirates at Coomoora Reserve.
While Coomoora sits on top of the ladder, the Pirates languish in last, needing a win to avoid relegation.
But they will not find the six points against Coomoora who bowled the Pirates out for a lacklustre 67 before reaching 2/49 when stumps was called.
@BT Sub Sport News:BUCKLEY RIDGES v MARANATHA METHODIST
The Buckley Ridges-Maranatha Methodist game hangs in the balance as both sides play out a tight finish at Park Oval.
The Ridges made 106 in their first innings and it appeared Maranatha could avoid any threat of relegation with a simple win but at stumps Maranatha was 7/71, still needing 35 runs.
@BT Sub Sport News:LYNDALE v FOUNTAIN GATE
Fountain Gate is poised to cause one of the bigger upsets of the season as it tracks down Lyndale’s score of 83 at Barry Powell Reserve.
Bowling openers Matthew Maxwell (3/25) and Bryan Guthrie (2/16) were both economical as Fountain Gate bowled Lyndale out for its lowest score of the season.
In response Fountain Gate is 2/26 after 20 overs.
