By RUSSELL BENNETT
DANDENONG DISTRICT CRICKET ASSOCIATION – TURF 1
CRANBOURNE v PARKFIELD
WITH Parkfield entering day two on 1/14 chasing 172 for victory against Cranbourne, it’s fair to say the game was still well and truly in the balance.
But Cranbourne superstars Steve Spoljaric and Matt Chasemore had other ideas – removing Hemantha Jayasundera (3) and Brad Baptist (14) early on day two to put the visitors squarely on to the back foot. From there, Parkfield was unable to recover – despite a trio of middle-order starts from Nilochana Perera (25), Travis D’Souza and skipper Shane Bell (34 not out) – and was rolled for 116.
From top to bottom, Cranbourne’s attack was at its miserly best – with Spoljaric conceding just a run an over, finishing with 2/20 from 20 overs (including 11 maidens). Chasemore also conceded little more than a run an over, but it was Cameron Dinger who had the Midas touch. He was lethal through the middle and lower orders, finishing with 4/29 from his 16 overs.
DANDENONG WEST v BUCKLEY RIDGES
Despite a pair of stoic half-centuries – to skipper Matt Sofoulis (73) and Anthony Brannan (55) – the West (185) was no match for Buckley Ridges at Greaves Reserve.
After winning the toss and electing to bat on day one, Buckley amassed 9/278 from their 80 overs with Paul Rudd (81) leading the way from the top of the order.
And after slumping to 2/11, the West’s battle became even tougher on Saturday. Sofoulis and Brannan really dug their heels in, but it wasn’t enough as a steady stream of wickets fell around them. Rajpal Dhillon (18) and Clayton McCartney (15) were the only other batsmen from the West to reach double figures, while Hussain Ali led the ridges attack with 3/15 from 12 overs. Westley Nicholas (2/38), Susantha Pradeep (2/31) and Lukas Hoogenboom (2/47) finished with two scalps apiece.
SPRINGVALE SOUTH v HALLAM KALORA PARK
The Hallam boys put up a much better fight on day two against Springvale South, batting their way out of any prospect of outright defeat.
After winning the toss and electing to bat on day one at Alex Nelson Reserve, the visitors were rolled for just 102 with Jarrod Armitage taking a stellar 5/57.
South then stormed past their total and finished the first day’s play on 7/194, but their lower order and tail were skittled early on day two as the side was dismissed for 202. Jordan Hammond took 4/36, while Will Whyte finished with 3/27.
Then, in his side’s second innings, Hallam opener Jagveer Hayer stepped right up to the plate with a superb unbeaten 100 not out. He combined with Tyrone Barnes (51) for a 131-run second wicket stand as their side finished on 2/185. Springvale South secured first innings points.
NORTH DANDENONG v LYNDALE
The boys from North Dandenong achieved what Springvale South couldn’t – recording an impressive outright win on day two of their clash at Lois Twohig Reserve.
After steamrolling through Lyndale for just 104 on day one, Dandy North declared 50 overs into their reply on 6/192 with Uzair Qureshi (51 not out), and skipper Nasrat Malikzada (49) leading the charge.
As poor as Lyndale’s batsmen performed in their first innings, things went from bad to worse in the second – dismissed for just 89 with skipper Ciaron Connolly (22) the only batsman to pass 20 as Michael De Kauwe was on his rampaging best with 6/21 to go along with his 2/7 in the first innings. North (0/4) only needed to bat for little more than an over in their second innings to secure an outright win.
MORDIALLOC v BERWICK
If ever the Bears middle and lower order needed to stand up and be counted, it was on Saturday against the home side Mordialloc at Ben Kavanagh Reserve.
Berwick was in all sorts of strife at 4/50 heading into day two, despite chasing just 150 for victory.
But after at one stage falling to 4/24, they recovered to 5/111 – well and truly back on track for victory. They were ultimately dismissed for 163 in the 77th over with Ryan Crawford (53), Jack Williams (39), and skipper Jarrod Goodes (30) leading the fight-back. Incredibly, they were the only three Berwick batsmen to reach double figures.
NARRE WARREN v HEINZ SOUTHERN DISTRICTS
Last week set the scene for a fascinating battle between Narre Warren and HSD, and day two lived up to expectations. Needing 176 to knock off the home side at Sweeney Reserve, HSD slipped to 3/55 before a steadying partnership between opener Brad Downe (30) and skipper Matt Cox (17). Michael Davies (26), Justin Davis (61) and wicket-keeper Rob Davies (14) then combined for some invaluable middle and lower order runs to steer the visitors home and finish on 9/204. Jarryd Straker led the way for the Narre attack with 3/49, while Atishsinh Chouhan and Chris Edwards each finished with 2/28.
