By Marc McGowan
FINALS are on the mind of most teams in the Dandenong District Cricket Association with only one round to come after this week.
Berwick is the only Turf One team assured of March action, with four teams locked on 33 points directly underneath the Bears.
@BT Sub Sport News:TURF ONE
Buckley Ridges v Narre Warren
Narre Warren’s finals hopes will be on the line this weekend when it continues its clash with Buckley Ridges at Park Oval.
Both teams sit on 33 points, with Buckley Ridges boasting a superior percentage which has the team sitting in second as opposed to the Magpies’ fifth.
Narre Warren slumped to a disastrous 4/6 before captain-coach Wendell Perumal (43) steadied the ship and Chris Pentland (32) provided some late hitting to scrape their side to 145.
The Magpie bowlers had Buckley 5/72 at stumps.
@BT Sub Sport News:Berwick v St Mary’s
Berwick will be confident of maintaining its mammoth lead on the ladder after restricting St Mary’s to a small total at Arch Brown Reserve on Saturday.
Troy Cashman (69) was the mainstay of St Mary’s 8/200, and received good support from Luke Byron (48).
St Mary’s was 2/140 before a loss of 4/12 slowed the scoring and left the team vulnerable this weekend.
Berwick stars Ash Henry (3/80) and Will Carr (2/25) led from the front again to be the pick of the bowlers.
@BT Sub Sport News:Doveton v Parkfield
Doveton has a tough chase on its hands after conceding 253 to third-placed Parkfield at Robinson Reserve on the weekend.
Robust Doves bowler Brad Polson (3/46) was at his intimidating best, but the Bears had a host of contributors who kept the runs ticking over.
No-one dominated the scoreboard, but with four scores of 36 or more, led by Grant Milnes’ 47, Parkfield managed to recover from 2/30 to post a competitive total.
@BT Sub Sport News:Cranbourne v Springvale South
Cranbourne’s bowlers were put to the sword by Springvale South at Casey Fields on Saturday.
The Bloods lost Rory Ingram for 9, early but did not miss a beat from then on, with gun all-rounder Danny Law (101) belting his first ton of the season.
Fellow all-rounder Craig Slocombe (64) and Greg Scott (60) were the best in support as Springvale South knocked up 337.
Matt Moore (4/64) returned the best figures for his side.
@BT Sub Sport News:Dandenong West v North Dandenong
North Dandenong is clinging to its place in the top four after a poor batting performance against Dandenong West at Greaves Reserve on the weekend.
North Dandenong slumped to 3/8 and then 6/88 before the tail came to the rescue.
Glen Pepper (28) and David Bell (26 not out) made valuable cameos to stretch the score to a defendable 180.
Stuart Mack (4/29) then went to work with the ball, but was the only one to make inroads in the Dandenong West line-up as the team finished with 4/62 at stumps.
@BT Sub Sport News:Southern Pirates v Keysborough
Keysborough is in charge after day one against the Southern Pirates at Wachter Reserve on Saturday.
Mahshan Perera (51) was a rock in the middle order and found late support from Stephen Hennigan (36 not out) to help his side reach 210.
Keysborough’s opening attack exploded into action in the remaining 14 overs to have the Pirates struggling at 3/30, with Channa Gunawardana (2/11) claiming multiple wickets.
@BT Sub Sport News:TURF TWO
Fountain Gate v Berwick
Fountain Gate’s scintillating form has been momentarily halted after a mediocre batting display against Berwick at Max Pawsey Reserve on the weekend.
After losing the first wicket until 71, Fountain Gate collapsed to 8/151 before some rearguard action from number nine batsman Scott Mather (45), who backed up his previous season high of 38 last week to help his side to 215.
Matthew Crosby (5/43) topped the bowling figures.
@BT Sub Sport News:Hampton Park v St Brigids-St Louis
Hampton Park has a thriller on its hands against St Brigids-St Louis after a wicket feast at Booth Reserve on Saturday.
The latter team batted first and the Red and Black had it in strife at 6/53, but a timely knock from Tom Stillman (38) resurrected the innings somewhat and gave the Cave a total it could defend.
Set 125 to win, Hampton Park made a shocking start and found itself 3/10.
Chris Bateman (30) and Stephen Boltong (26 not out) fought back to have their team 8/104 at stumps.
@BT Sub Sport News:Springvale South v Doveton North
Doveton North will need to bowl well this weekend against Springvale South to record its first victory of the season at Alex Nelson Reserve.
Alan Campbell (73) did his best to steer Doveton North to a competitive score but struggled to find willing allies, with Christopher Bell’s 21 the next best in his club’s miserable 171.
Benjamin Goodey (3/32) continued his good form with the ball to lead his side.
Springvale South was 2/33 at stumps.
@BT Sub Sport News:Maranatha Methodist v Coomoora
Maranatha Methodist defied last round’s form to produce a quality score against breakaway leaders Coomoora at Strathaird Reserve on Saturday.
After a humbling loss to North Dandenong the previous week, Maranatha Methodist had much respect to regain and proved it was up to the task.
Opener David Rechsteiner (51) slammed a half-century and Jeff Thom (65) and Nathan Monk (62) followed suit as their side managed 8/256.
@BT Sub Sport News:Lyndale v Hallam Kalora Park
Hallam Kalora Park embarrassed Lyndale on its way to 365 at Barry Powell Reserve on the weekend.
Captain Cory Booth clobbered 150 to give him 294 runs in his last two outings and a 55.4 average overall.
His score dominated the scorecard, and a bevy of starts from other players rounded out the performance.
Jeremy Vethecan led the bowling charge with 4/117.
@BT Sub Sport News:North Dandenong v HSD
HSD put a dent in North Dandenong’s unlikely pursuit of a finals spot at Lois Twohig Reserve on Saturday.
Sitting 10 points adrift of Maranatha Methodist for the all-important fourth spot, North Dandenong did nothing to improve its chances on the weekend. Its day started in the worst possible fashion with struggling opener Janahan Kumaralingam (duck) failing again as North Dandenong fell to 5/58 before eventually compiling 167.
HSD is already on its way to success at 2/61.
