By JARROD POTTER
DDCA – ROUND 1 REVIEW
YOU never forget your first … win on turf.
It was a sensational start to life in the Dandenong District Cricket Association for Beaconsfield (1/121) as it claimed a resounding nine-wicket victory over Berwick (9/120).
Lifting the Battle of the Creek trophy – for the first time in the cricket season for a long time – the Tigers proved too much for the Bears with bat and ball. Making his presence in the DDCA immediately felt, Beaconsfield captain-coach Dylan Freitag (5/20) terrified the Berwick top order as his first over was a nightmare to face.
Freitag snared back-to-back wickets before the team roared for a reasonable LBW shout on the hat-trick ball – that was not given.
After Callan Tout (1/11) had a difficult skied chance gobbled up on the ring by Heshal Silva, the visitors were 3/5 and in a world of hurt. It took a strong fight back from Berwick’s middle order – Brad James (46) and Darren De Souza (21) – to post a reasonable score. Matt Golding (2/24) was enlisted next and dislodged a couple before the skipper finished the job to claim a five-for in his club debut. Beacy’s batsmen were just as clinical as the bowlers – Angus Bunnell (12) was the only man to fall as Silva (41no) and Brendan Johnson (41no) showed their skill on the turf deck. Berwick’s bowlers struggled to match the hard-hitting tandem. The duo smashed an unbeaten 93-run stand in only 30 overs to give the Sunday spectators plenty to celebrate at Perc Allison Oval in Beaconsfield’s first day of its new life in the Dandenong District competition.
Freitag was thrilled to open the account with a five-wicket haul in his DDCA debut and pleased to put a first XI win on the board for the first time in a long time.
“Four or five of the guys in that side hadn’t won a game for 16 months,” Freitag said. “Not since winning the District final in WGCA two years ago – so they’ve finally got some success and now they’re hungry for more.”
While the new deck had a bit of life in it, Freitag thought it was down to persistence and patience to get the wickets as Beaconsfield was able to endure for longer at either side of the crease.
“The carry was nice, bounce was consistent and my angle – across the left handers – helped a little bit, but it didn’t get people out,” Freitag said. “Bowling a tight line and length and being patient, being more patient than the opposition was important.”
Beaconsfield president Aaron Price said the transition to turf was well received by everyone at the club, especially volunteers who have helped curate the first DDCA grass wicket at Beaconsfield.
“Very happy to see the time finally come,” Price said.
“The learning has been a very big thing – learning how to take care, maintain and manage a turf wicket is obviously completely different to getting a broom out and sweeping a synthetic one.
“There’s a lot more involvement by our volunteers and committee members to get the wicket ready so I thank them and the people that have made this happen for Beaconsfield.”
Beaconsfield’s Turf 6 gets its first run at home this weekend in a two-dayer against Cranbourne.
