By Gavin Staindl
THREE months into the season the Dandenong and District Cricket Association finally played round one – but only just.
The postponed match from October was again under threat from heavy rain but the rescheduled matches were given the all clear.
Moving the one-dayer to the Sunday gave curators an extra day to recover from the mammoth downpour that prevented cricket across many of the state’s turf grades.
TURF ONE
@BT Sub Sport News:NORTH DANDENONG v BERWICK
Not even five run-outs could prevent North Dandenong from running away with Sunday’s one-dayer at Arch Brown Reserve.
Ranked in the bottom three at the start of the weekend, North Dandenong provided the upset of the round by knocking Berwick from the top of the Turf One ladder with a four-wicket victory.
Berwick’s Brad Francis contributed 50 to the first innings total of 7/142 but he could do little as his side’s bowlers failed for the first time this year.
The bowling attack managed only one wicket for the match but were helped by North Dandenong’s running between the wickets which accounted for five of the six wickets.
But despite the poor running between wickets, North Dandenong scampered home for the win in the last over.
@BT Sub Sport News:NARRE WARREN v DANDENONG WEST
A consistent effort by the Narre Warren bats at Sweeney Reserve led the Magpies to a 65-run win, its first of the season.
Six Narre Warren batmens made more than 20 runs as the last-placed Magpies finished the 40 overs on 180.
In response, Dandenong West suffered at the hands of Jamie Croon (5/28) and was bowled out for 115.
@BT Sub Sport News:ST MARY’S v HALLAM-KALORA PARK
St Mary’s survived a 5/32 batting collapse late in the game to cling to a two-wicket victory over Hallam-Kalora Park at Carroll Reserve.
Needing 119 for victory, St Mary’s was looking the goods at 3/80 but a string of wickets slowed the run-rate and opened the gate for a comeback.
A game-saving innings by Agnelo Dmello (19 not out) ensured St Mary’s reached 119 with two overs remaining.
@BT Sub Sport News:PARKFIELD v KEYSBOROUGH
Parkfield comfortably took out the one-dayer against Keysborough at Parkfield Reserve.
Winning the toss and batting first, Parkfield finished on 9/182 with Beau Dowler (88) top scoring for the home team.
Keysborough’s Jacob Hennigan took 5/26 but was one of three bats to fall for a duck as Keysborough was bowled out for 77.
TURF TWO
@BT Sub Sport News:CRANBOURNE v COOMOORA
On a slow day at Coomoora Reserve, Cranbourne gave itself the best chance at reaching the top of the ladder with a three-run win over league-leaders Coomoora.
When Cranbourne finished its first innings at 8/105, it looked as if Coomoora could pencil in the win, but the Cranbourne bowlers began to pen another story.
In the biggest shock on the day, the Cranbourne bowlers took the opening five wickets giving up only 15 runs en route to recording a three-run win from the 40 overs.
@BT Sub Sport News:FOUNTAIN GATE v MARANATHA METHODIST
Fountain Gate continues its climb up the ladder, with the latest six points coming from a two-wicket victory over Maranatha at Strathaird Reserve.
After dropping to last on the ladder before Christmas, Fountain Gate moved to within a game of third with a narrow win against Maranatha.
Fountain Gate’s response to the first innings total of 97 wasn’t pretty and Maranatha’s Craig Boswell (4/32) tried in vain to defend the total, but rarely in turf cricket does a team succeed at defending less than 100.
@BT Sub Sport News:SPRINGVALE SOUTH v SOUTHERN PIRATES
Springvale South won its third consecutive game, beating the Southern Pirates by five-wickets at Wachter Reserve.
Pirates’ openers Scott Etherington (34) and Chris Perry (26) were influential early but it was the 35 sundries (22 wides) that was the biggest contributor to the 134 scoreline.
Springvale easily passed the target and went on to make 7/180 off the 40 overs.
@BT Sub Sport News:LYNDALE v BUCKLEY RIDGES
Lyndale remain in contention to take top spot on the Turf Two ladder after it disposed of Buckley Ridges by eight wickets at Park Oval.
Lyndale’s Ben Montgomery (4/17) got the ball rolling early and left it to his openers to chase down the required 144.
An unbeaten 83 by Conal Ranatunga was all that was needed as Lyndale strolled to 2/145 from only 29 overs.
@BT Sub Sport News:HSD v ST BRIGID’S/ST LOUIS
A defiant stand by HSD’s Michael Davies has given HSD its third win of the season.
Davies’ 56 not out was the foundation to the HSD innings that passed the required amount of 122 with seven wickets and 12 overs left.
@BT Sub Sport News:HAMPTON PARK v NARRE NORTH
Six wickets to Jason Eastwood has given Hampton Park its first one-day win of the season.
After team-mate Travis Lacey scored 72 not out to lead Hampton Park to a first innings total of 8/150, Eastwood backed it up with the ball taking six wickets for 26 runs off his eight overs.
In their lowest total since its promotion into Turf Two, Narre North crumbled to 84 off 23 overs.
