Berwick captain Paul Evans made 36 but his side slouched to 176 against Buckley Ridges in the first two-dayer of the year. 59538 Pictures: Stewart Chambers
By Gavin Staindl
THE sun was out and tails were wagging in day one of the year’s first two-dayers in the Dandenong and District Cricket Association.
Batting first appeared to be the desired preference for teams but for sides such as Narre Warren, Springvale South and Narre North, they owed much of their high totals to the lower-order.
TURF ONE
@BT Sub Sport News:BERWICK v BUCKLEY RIDGES
Two late wickets may have been the best thing to come out of the first day for Berwick in its pivotal clash against Buckley Ridges at Arch Brown Reserve.
Buckley Ridges bowler Matthew Goodwright (4/26) ripped through the Berwick lower order as the Bears were bowled out for 176, but the wickets of Ridges openers Clint Walker (2) and Suren Ekanayake (6) late in the day evened the contest.
At stumps Buckley was 2/27 and need another 149 runs to win.
It will be the second time the two teams meet this week as Berwick and Buckley fight it out in the grand final of the DDCA Twenty20 competition.
The two teams were scheduled to play late yesterday (Wednesday) at Arch Brown Reserve – pick up next week’s News for details on the match.
@BT Sub Sport News:NARRE WARREN v DOVETON
Narre Warren is a heavy favourite to blast off the bottom of the Turf One ladder after bashing its way to 9/272 against Doveton at Sweeney Reserve.
The Magpies made only one change to the team that was bowled out for 46 last week but look certain to leap-frog out of the relegation zone.
The Magpies were well positioned at 7/144 to pass their highest score of the season – 180 – but they never looked like scoring more than 200 runs.
Led by Shean Vanderwert (82) and No. 10 Chris Jarrett (56), the Magpies added 128 runs for the loss of only two wickets.
Jarrett, who had not made a score above 14 this season, and Omar Baker (23), wasted no time at the crease, belting a combined 10 fours and four sixes.
@BT Sub Sport News:MORDIALLOC v HALLAM-KALORA PARK
An 88-run partnership could be Hallam-Kalora Park’s saving grace as it was bowled out for 169 against Mordialloc at Parkdale Secondary College.
Alistair Neale (37) joined John Hammond (62) at the crease as Hallam-Kalora Park found itself in trouble at 5/53.
But the steadying partnership gave the visitors renewed hope that it could defend 169 on day two.
@BT Sub Sport News:
TURF TWO
@BT Sub Sport News:COOMOORA v NARRE NORTH
Narre North’s Shane Luck has reversed his side’s poor fortunes after a well-crafted century put Narre North in a strong position at the end of day one at Coomoora Reserve.
On the back of two draining losses, Narre North was headed for a third shocker when Luck walked to the crease with his team reeling at 4/10.
But Luck (114) and Scott Brandon (39) guided Narre North to 9/234 before stumps was called after 80 overs.
@BT Sub Sport News:SOUTHERN PIRATES v ST BRIGID’S/ST LOUIS
It’s the battle between Turf Two’s two worst teams, but by the way last-placed St Brigid’s/St Louis smashed its way to 9/337 you could be forgiven for thinking otherwise.
Jeremy Heys (115) and Kyle Gray (76 n.o.) top-scored for the visitors but the party continued for the batting team as the Southern Pirates struggled to take wickets and prevent the flow of runs.
In the game that could define who gets relegated, the Southern Pirates will need something special next week if it is to avoid falling a game behind.
@BT Sub Sport News:HSD v FOUNTAIN GATE
HSD has claimed a first-innings victory on day one of the two-dayer at Reedy Reserve.
Sending Fountain Gate into bat proved worthwhile for HSD captain Trevor Davies as his team dismantled its opponent.
James van Elewoud took four wickets as HSD bowled Fountain Gate out for 96 runs before Adam Semmens (38) led HSD to a four-wicket victory.
@BT Sub Sport News:MARANATHA METHODIST v SPRINGVALE SOUTH
Maranatha is in threat of losing its seventh game of the season after it was bowled out for 151 runs at Strathaird Reserve.
Fifteen-year-old Naveen Perera (52) registered his first Turf Two 50 but the youngster was alone in his struggle for runs.
Succumbing to 151 off 64 overs, Maranatha did peg back two wickets late in the day to have Springvale South at 2/39 at stumps.
@BT Sub Sport News:HAMPTON PARK v LYNDALE
Hampton Park will need a host of wickets if it is to successfully defend its day one total of 94 at Booth Reserve. Danny Cortese (33) top scored for the home side, which made 96 and looked certain for its fourth loss of the season.
But hope for Hampton Park lies in Jason Eastwood who has taken two wickets so far and reduced Lyndale to 4/38 at stumps.
