By Russell Bennett
A SUPERB spell of line and length bowling from Hallam Kalora Park’s Leigh Booth still couldn’t curtail the influence of Springvale South’s Jackson Sketcher at Alex Nelson Reserve. The home side won the toss and elected to bat but lost two wickets in quick succession, sparking a middle order collapse.
At 6/75, Springvale South looked in all sorts. Booth had already snared four wickets and looked set to embarrass the home side with career-best figures before Sketcher mounted his lower-order counter attack.
His measured 92 included moments of spectacular aggression – finishing with four sixes – and together with tailender Jarrod Armitage (41), he dragged Sringvale South out of the mire. The side ultimately reached a respectable 242 from 77 overs.
Hallam then survived a nightmare two overs prior to stumps and will start day two with 10 wickets still in hand.
@BT Sub Sport News:MORDIALLOC v DOVETON
MORDIALLOC won the toss at Ben Kavanagh Reserve and sent Doveton in to bat. The decision reaped immediate rewards as the visitors lost its first two wickets in quick succession before skipper Ryan Hendy (19), Shaun Tongue (29) and Nick Fairbank (58) steadied the ship. Recovering from a disastrous 3/34 start, Doveton scrambled to 190 after from 50 overs.
Niranjan Kumar was the pick of Moridalloc’s bowlers with an incredibly economical 4/27 from his 17 overs, while Chathura Athukorala and Tim Kennedy each chimed in with 2/29. Mordialloc will resume its first innings at 0/4 on day two.
@BT Sub Sport News:HEINZ SOUTHERN DISTRICTS v BUCKLEY RIDGES
SOME steadfast batting from the Heinz Southern Districts (155) lower order saw a decent total emerge against Buckley Ridges (2/16). Garrick Wiramanaden (33) top scored for Heinz, as Wes Nicholas (4/27) and Jeremy Kuru (3/27) did the damage with the ball. The response from Buckley Ridges saw Troy Aust (7) and Matt Goodwright (0) fall late in the day to Michael Davies (2/0).
@BT Sub Sport News:NARRE WARREN v PARKFIELD
RAINED ruined the first day of what looked an enticing tussle between Narre Warren and Parkfield at Sweeney Reserve.
Narre won the toss and sent Parkfield in with dark clouds looming over head.
The conditions wreaked havoc with the Parkfield top order as the first three wickets fell for just eight runs.
At 4/25, the side was in disarray but opener David Ford (26 not out) and Tony Payne (17 not out) survived until the rain set in. Dushan Wickramaratne excelled in the testing conditions, tearing through the Parkfield top order and claiming 3/16.
Parkfield reached 4/62 when play was stopped after 36 overs.
@BT Sub Sport News:BERWICK v KEYSBOROUGH
AGAIN, rain proved the enemy in Berwick’s clash at home against Keysborough. In overcast conditions, Berwick won the toss and sent the visitors in. Keysborough had a solid start and looked set for a big score at 1/69. But opener Andre Peters’ dismissal for 62 triggered a mini-collapse as Keysborough lost three wickets for 13 runs and stammered to 5/125 when rain halted play. Jarrod Goodes (2/24) and Ash Henry (2/29) were the pick of a Berwick attack that will be looking for quick wickets early on day two.
@BT Sub Sport News:TURF TWO
NARRE SOUTH v SPRINGVALE SOUTH
KYLE Hardy cut through the Springvale South batting line-up like a hot knife through butter as Narre South gained ascendency on day one of their clash at Strathaird Reserve.
Hardy snared the key wickets of opener Mark Keatinge, Matt Wenke, Andrew Staude and Austin Heldt for a maximum of just 11 runs as the visitors crumbled to 6/50.
But wicket-keeper batsman Braden King, captain Ben Goodey and tailender Cameron Scott scored a trio of 25s to restore some respectability to the scorecard.
Springvale South was eventually dismissed for 121 in the 49th over. Narre South’s batsmen were much more aggressive in reply but the side still lost a string of wickets to fall to 6/109 after 31 overs. Captain Brett Armitage (22) was his side’s top scorer on day one.
@BT Sub Sport News:FOUNTAIN GATE v ST MARYS
IN A recurring theme throughout the DDCA last weekend, rain destroyed any chance of a day one contest between Fountain Gate and St Marys. Fountain Gate was sent in to bat, reaching 2/82 before the skies opened up. Opener Ryan Wigney (33) and John Mirranay (4) were the not-out batsmen. Cameron Roberts and Steve Fernando were the St Marys wicket takers.
@BT Sub Sport News:SOUTHERN PIRATES v NARRE NORTH
NARRE North’s players found themselves in the unusual position of dominating the first day’s play against the Southern Pirates, despite failing to reach 200 in their first innings. The visitors started strongly at Wachter Reserve with an 85-run opening partnership between Suhayl Khan (24) and Brad Angus (55) but both men fell within eight runs, exposing the rest of the line-up to an in-form Pirates attack. Narre eventually declared at 9/199 after 53 overs. In reply, the Pirates suffered a catastrophic start to their first innings and just could not recover from it. At stumps on day one, they sit on a precarious 8/52 with Nathan Pulham (3/9), Ben Doran (2/18) and Stephen Ryan (2/7) the wicket takers.
@BT Sub Sport News:COOMOORA v CRANBOURNE
CRANBOURNE has its work cut out after the first day’s play against Coomoora at Coomoora Reserve. The home side won the toss and elected to bat but had to recover from a shaky 2/18 start. Captain Paul Hill led the fightback, scoring a brilliant middle-order 77 as Rob Johnston (37) and Tim Bacic (30 not out) provided the bulk of his support on route to a competitive 231.
Scott Eastwood (3/59), Daniel Evans (2/12) and Ross Woodall (2/57) were Cranbourne’s leading wicket takers on day one.
