By JARROD POTTER
DANDENONG DISTRICT CRICKET ASSOCIATION – Turf 1 Round 8 (day 2)
IN A day of DDCA carnage, maximum points were seized by Springvale South, North Dandenong and Heinz Southern Districts.
COOMOORA v HEINZ SOUTHERN DISTRICTS
Solid Coomoora (142 and 159) sadly was not enough to earn the Kangaroos its first points of the season as Heinz Southern Districts (7/175dec and 5/128) did enough to take the chocolates. Adam Semmens (49) started the rapid chase before Michael Davies (38) and Brent Patterson (31 not out) charged ahead with declaration in mind. Saliya Saman (2/30) was impressive for the visitors off his 21.2 overs. Saman (61) would back it up with the bat as he proved the only resistance to Heinz – namely master spinner Paul Stockdale (5/59). Needing more than eight-an-over to take the outright, Heinz Southern Districts absolutely flayed the Kangaroos in the second innings – smashing 128 in 15.3 overs. Striking faster and harder than their namesake animal, the Cobras played hit-and-run cricket to take the points. Davies (35 not out), Trevor Davies (18 not out), Justin Davis (23) and Stockdale (23) hit the suitcase out of anything Coomoora pitched up. It pushes the Cobras up to fifth before hosting Berwick while Coomoora remains in the relegation zone as it heads to Hallam Kalora Park.
BERWICK v PARKFIELD
With hearts and minds firmly locked elsewhere, Berwick (79 and 2/125) was no match for Parkfield (183).
Mourning the passing of perennial club supporter Bill Crawford – father of Berwick all-rounder Ryan – the mood at Arch Brown Reserve was sombre, but with Crawford a firm believer in the game carrying on no matter what, Berwick took to the field to respect the wishes of the departed DDCA legend.
In the battle of the Bears, Parkfield emerged triumphant as young spinner Travis D’Souza (7/30) rattled through Berwick at a rapid rate. D’Souza’s 15.3 overs beguiled Berwick and he ran through the home side en route to his best DDCA figures. Berwick (2/125) fared much better in the second innings, going the tonk to erase the outright deficit and thump out the remaining 21 overs.
Third place Berwick will head to Heinz Southern Districts with a spot in the top-four on the line while Parkfield moves up to eighth and remains an outside chance of playing finals, needing to impress this week against top-of-the-ladder Cranbourne at home.
MORDIALLOC v LYNDALE
Escaping by a whisker, Mordialloc (8/179) scraped over the line against Lyndale (173). On a rare occasion in recent history, the Bloodhounds’ top order fell over under pressure from Dale Tormey (2/53) and Ricky Foulstone (1/29). Quyen Pham (3/38) carried on the relentless attack, but Mordialloc finally found some strength through Damith Ralalage (53) and captain Chathura Athukorala (39). Cameron Tomkinson (29 not out) finished the job to keep Mordialloc in the top four before its clash against Buckley Ridges while Lyndale remains anchored near the bottom in 11th as it hosts Springvale South.
NORTH DANDENONG v BUCKLEY RIDGES
One of the two outright victories this week belonged to the Lois Twohig Reserve brigade as North Dandenong (139) powered through Buckley Ridges (60 and 58) twice. Barely adding to their overnight tally at 8/125, North Dandenong instead chose to rip apart the Ridges with the ball as only 21.3 overs were needed for outright triumph. Jurgen Andersen (3/8) and Liam Dudding (3/12) were sensational in skittling the visitors, as returning Buckley Ridges champion Shane D’Rozario (11) top-scored in the second innings. Boosted by the outright, North Dandenong bounces up to seventh ahead of its clash with Dandenong West while Buckley Ridges hosts Mordialloc.
SPRINGVALE SOUTH v DANDENONG WEST
Signalling clear intent to return to the final match of the season, Springvale South (5/118dec and 2/92) cantered past Dandenong West (95 and 114) for maximum points. Ash Stephens (25) and Andrew Harry (38) resisted the Bloods’ onslaught – especially Harry who belted five fours and two sixes at Harold Road – but their efforts would pale compared to the home side. Nathan King (4/9) and Yoshan Kumara (3/27) slashed through the Bulls’ order to leave a sub-100 tally for an outright victory with plenty of time remaining in the day. That job would be taken up by Kumara (36 not out) and Jarrod Armitage (18) – promoted to get some time at the crease – with Steve Masterson (28 not out) holding up the other end in his usual stoic manner. The Bloods sit four points off the lead on the Turf 1 ladder before clashing with Lyndale away.
