By Jarrod Potter
WITH the finals quickly approaching, the Dandenong and District Cricket Association (DDCA) starts up again this Saturday with plenty left to play for.
@BT Sub Sport News:DOVETON
Doveton is the team to beat this season and the record to date highlights just how destructive it’s been.
The Doves only lost once this season, against Parkfield in a one-dayer that was reduced in length on account of rain.
Other than that loss, Doveton has taken the competition by the throat this year, with four comfortable victories and an innings-victory smashing of Keysborough just before the holiday break.
Jason Arnberger (242 runs at 82) and Brad Downe (197 at 32.83) have smashed the ball around for the Doves while Corrie Wilson (18 wickets at 10.39) jumped to the top of the wickets table after snagging 7/46 against Keysborough.
The only question left is whether they host the grand final or travel elsewhere to play it, as at this stage they are a certainty to participate.
Doveton hosts Berwick this weekend.
@BT Sub Sport News:BERWICK
Berwick has eked out a nice existence clinically dispatching its opponents without much fanfare.
Their 1318 runs for the season is the top in Turf 1 with five batsmen past 100 runs to date. Gavan Wills (261 runs at 52.2) and Ryan Crawford (178 at 44.5) have both struck crucial centuries and have found good support from James Davies (175 at 35), Josh Holden (147 at 21) and Brad Francis (144 at 24).
With the ball in hand, Andrew Perrin (13 wickets at 12.62) has returned to local cricket with great reward and Jarrod Goodes (eight at 14.5) is the next best return. The sole loss this season, to Mordialloc, was on the back of a ruthless 6-66 from Steve Squires, so Berwick can be excused for its transgression. Three more wins should see them through to the finals comfortably.
Berwick faces Doveton this week at Robinson Reserve.
@BT Sub Sport News:NARRE WARREN
Just falling out of the top four with a surprise loss to Dandenong West before the break, Narre Warren has impressed so far this season.
Dushan Wickramaratne (216 runs at 54, 15 wickets at 13.87) is in Alan Wookey Medal contention and has received good support from Shean Vanderwert (172 at 57.33) and Nathan King (129 at 25.8). With the only other loss coming against Buckley Ridges, it’s fair to say Narre Warren is in the hunt. Narre Warren faces Mordialloc away this weekend.
@BT Sub Sport News:HALLAM KALORA PARK
Hallam Kalora Park is in a precarious no-man’s land between the top and bottom teams.
The mid-season acquisition of former Cranbourne coach Johan Vorster (138 runs, 4 wickets at 25) has been crucial to HKP taking a much-needed win against Parkfield. Luke Byron (152 at 38) and Cory Booth (150 at 30, 11 wickets at 16.91) have performed well.
They will need to win four from five remaining games to make the finals, which is possible with their fixture.
@BT Sub Sport News:HEINZ SOUTHERN DISTRICTS
Heinz Southern Districts are lucky Keysborough are having a worse year than them… just. Their innings defeat against North Dandenong last round was brutal, as they slumped to 48 all out in the first innings.
Navoda Ganegoda (133 runs at 22.17) is their best bat while Paul Stockdale (12 wickets 19.08) has been best with the ball. Finals are no longer a possibility and they’ll have to fight hard to avoid relegation.
TURF 2
@BT Sub Sport News:CRANBOURNE
After axing coach Johan Vorster, Cranbourne has continued on its merry way without him.
The only danger game left this season is against Coomoora and the Eagles look prepared to host or contest the grand final in Turf 2.
Robert Clelland (135 runs at 33.75, six wickets at 10.33) is their leading batsman and has taken the most wickets, excluding Vorster. Cranbourne travels to face St Brigid’s/St Louis this weekend.
@BT Sub Sport News:FOUNTAIN GATE
Fountain Gate is right in the reckoning for promotion to Turf 1. Sitting in second place over the break, the Gators have gone unbeaten this season.
Stephen White (169 at 33.8) leads with the bat while Bryan Guthrie (13 at 13.31) is their leading wicket taker.
@BT Sub Sport News:NARRE SOUTH
Narre South is still in the hunt for a finals spot, but will have to work hard to attain it.
Brett Armitage (147 runs at 29.4) leads their run tally while Vishan Surendran (seven wickets at 7.43) leads their wicket count. Narre South has Fountain Gate and Springvale South in the immediate future, so they’ll have to play out of their skin to get to the final four.
@BT Sub Sport News:NARRE NORTH
Narre North is still a chance to make the finals, but will need to win most matches from here on out to do so.
Brandon Scott (118 at 29.5) leads the scoring and Ben Doran (12 wickets at 21) is first on their wicket tally.
Narre North faces Silverton this weekend.
