Bulls storm to first win

A SIX-wicket haul to Steve Croft enabled Noble Park Cricket Club’s first XI to record its first win for the season.
Defending its total of 8/231, Noble Park got an early breakthrough when Kynan Ford picked up the first wicket in the eighth over.
Kew then reached 47 before Croft took his first wicket in the 15th over.
It was 4/49 two overs later as the Lancashire picked up wickets in successive deliveries. When Ford took his second scalp the visitors were reeling at 5/72.
Coming back for a second spell in the shadows of the tea break, Croft picked up his fourth wicket, Kew 6/94 at tea.
It was then off spinner Paul McDonald’s turn to get among the wickets, taking two in his 14th over to have Kew at 8/99.
Croft cleaned up the tail to finish with 6/26 off 18 overs and see Kew dismissed for 117. Ford took 2/26 and McDonald 2/39.
Batting again, Noble Park reached 1/39 at stumps with Andrew Brown (10) and Rod Douthie (24) at the crease.
The second XI also had its first win, dismissing Kew for 212 – six runs shy of Noble Park’s total of 9/218.
Matt Crozier (3/51) was the best of the bowlers with Sean Schubert (2/35), Chris Yue (2/52) and Andrew Borovac (1/42) the other wickets takers.
The third XI remains unbeaten after a four-run win against Malvern.
With Malvern resuming on 6/68 in reply to the Noble Park’s total of 11,1 the game went right down to the wire.
Andrew Love, who had bowled superbly the previous week, fittingly picked up the last wicket with Malvern’s total on 107, finishing with figures of 6/29 off 17 overs.
Asha Ganser (2/46) and Dhanushka Ekanayake (1/12 off 14 overs) were the other wicket takers.
Batting again, Noble Park reached 9/146 at stumps with Lamith Paranapalliyage (31), Ekanayake (22), David Parker (21) and Nirosh Fonseka (20) all contributing to the total.
The fourth XI was defeated outright by Malvern.
After resuming at 4/101 Malvern made 215 in reply to the Noble Park’s first innings of 137.
Michael Martindale picked up 4/71 with Andrew Murray taking 2/79.
In the second innings the side could only manage 90, Martindale top scoring with 47 with Brede Seccull (19) giving support. Malvern requiring only two overs to make the 13 runs required for the outright victory.