Left: Narre North speedster Rob Calvert steams in against Narre Warren in the clubs’ A Grade encounter at Sweeney Reserve on Saturday.By Marc McGowan and Paul Pickering
THE slow start to the Dandenong District Cricket Association continued on the weekend, with inclement weather meaning little play was possible at Turf level.
In Turf One, Doveton’s promising batting performance against Narre Warren the previous Saturday went unrewarded.
The Doves were unable to bowl even a single ball on day two as the two local teams were forced to settle for a draw.
North Dandenong’s hammering of Parkfield and Springvale South’s caning of Coomoora were the only two Turf One games that recorded results.
It was much the same in Turf Two, with just three contests completed.
TURF ONE
Springvale South d Coomoora
Last season’s Turf One premier Springvale South put Coomoora to the sword on the opening weekend, blasting its way to 7/360 on the back of a century from captain Craig Slocombe (103).
And while Coomoora’s chase would be in vain on Saturday, the Roos’ batsmen were far from disgraced in a total of 230.
The Roos – who returned to the top grade after a Turf Two triumph last summer – got off to a shaky start to be 2/32, before Andrew King (51) and Brad Barlow (55) combined to resuscitate the innings with a 72-run partnership.
Just as thoughts of an unlikely victory began to surface for the Roos, King misguided a Brad Sessler delivery into the safe hands of Slocombe.
Barlow departed soon after, leaving Asanga Weerasinghe (56) and Rizan Mawzoon (30) to guide the Roos towards a respectable first-up total.
Despite being the sixth bowler to hit the crease, Andrew Sharp (3/20) was Springvale South’s chief destroyer with the ball, while Danny Law (2/31) and tearaway quick Nick Bole-Brown (2/50) also created their share of problems.
Springvale South travels to Robinson Reserve to take on Doveton this Saturday, while Coomoora hosts Cranbourne.
North Dandenong d Parkfield
Having dismissed Parkfield for a measly 85, North Dandenong resumed at 0/44 on Saturday, hoping to knock off the remaining runs before the rain could rob it of a certain victory.
Despite losing the early wickets of Shane Clark and Craig Leonard, North Dandenong went on to eclipse Parkfield’s total with the loss of three wickets.
Skipper Glenn Finkelde (36) safely guided his side to the required total, before Kevin Leonard (60) enjoyed some useful time in the middle as North Dandenong pushed on to 8/168.
The brightest star for Parkfield was Shane Doig, who carried much of the load in claiming 4/58, including 13 maidens, in 36 overs.
Daniel Ferguson was also tidy with 2/40 off 23 overs.
Parkfield will now be looking to bounce back against Berwick at Arch Brown Reserve over the coming fortnight, while North Dandenong – now sitting atop the ladder with six points – hosts the Dandenong Derby against Dandy West at Lois Twohig Reserve.
TURF TWO
Southern Pirates d Maranatha Methodist
Maranatha Methodist made a woeful start to the season on Saturday, going down by 151 runs to the Southern Pirates at Strathaird Reserve.
The Pirates, who were relegated from Turf One in 2006-07, had few contributors with the bat, but Mark Ryalls (110) smashed 11 fours and two sixes to more than make up for his team-mates.
Stephen Ryalls (18*) was the next best with the willow as Southern amassed 7/225 from its 40 overs.
But after losing veterans Warren Dickson and Andrew Cooper in the off-season, Maranatha Methodist was sorely lacking in batting depth.
It lost four wickets while it was still in single figures and never recovered, bowled out for just 74 in 29 overs.
Peter Atkinson led the Pirates’ bowling effort with 3/11 from eight overs, ahead of Stuart Dalton (2/10) and Jay Kanahara (2/15).
Hampton Park d North Dandenong
AFTER winning first innings points the weekend before, Hampton Park was unable to produce an outright victory over North Dandenong at Lois Twohig Reserve on Saturday.
But the Redbacks will still be pleased with their four-wicket triumph, which owes much to English recruit Doug Mulholland.
Mulholland opened the bowling and snared 2/18 before cracking 53 with the bat.
The other two stars for Hampton Park were Daniel Redfern (3/15) and Matthew Bartlett (3/16).
Facing a 108-run deficit after the first innings, North Dandenong stumbled early, but Nirooshan Sachchithananthan (75*) and Steven Finkelde (43*) made sure their opponents would not claim outright points.
Chris Bateman – the only Hampton Park bowler not to pick up a wicket in the first innings – was the Redbacks’ only wicket taker in the second stand with 3/39.
Picture: Stewart Chambers.
