Dandenong West batsman Matthew Sofoulis cops a short ball in the ribs from Berwick paceman Will Carr.
By Glen Atwell and Marc McGowan
AFTER watching Australia thrash England over the Christmas and New Year break, Dandenong District Cricket Association players were ready to emulate some masterful performances when the season resumed on Saturday.
It was the last one-day round of the season and some of the results definitely surprised.
@BT Sub Sport News:Berwick v Dandenong West
BERWICK made amends for its shock loss to Keysborough before the Christmas break by inflicting a seven-wicket thrashing on Dandenong West at Arch Brown Reserve in Turf One competition on Saturday.
Dandenong West batted first and was on the back foot from the outset when Bears captain-coach Will Carr (2/16) removed Shane Larner (7).
The Bears continued to sink their teeth into the opposition and had Dandenong West at 3/33 before some rearguard action from Shannon Marum (66), who hit his second consecutive half-century and Greg Siwes (31) put the innings back on track.
Their side eventually reached 7/191 from its 40 overs, but it was never going to be enough against the ladder leader.
Despite missing star all-rounder Ash Henry, the Bears rumbled past the meagre total with eight overs to spare, with Alecs Roberts (94) and Gavan Wills (58) doing the majority of the work.
@BT Sub Sport News:
Narre Warren v Keysborough
NARRE Warren recorded its second consecutive win by comfortably accounting for Keysborough by 25 runs at Keysborough Reserve on Saturday.
The Magpies assembled 7/178, with solid contributions from all-rounder Vinay Tripathi (45), Chris Pentland (36 not out) and captain-coach Wendell Perumal (31).
Keysborough made a spirited start to reach 64 without loss.
This proved to be its final notable union, with consistent wickets tumbling before eventually succumbing for 153.
Pentland backed up his performance with the bat with the impressive figures of 5/29 and was ably supported by Chris Jarrett (4/33).
@BT Sub Sport News:St Mary’s v North Dandenong
TENTH-placed St Mary’s rolled third-placed North Dandenong by four wickets in their clash at Carroll Reserve on Saturday.
Batting first, Dandenong looked certain to score a more than competitive total.
Glen Pepper led the way with the bat, scoring 57 and was well supported by captain Adrian Baltruschaitis (38).
At 5/176, Dandenong seemed to be cruising, but lost its last five wickets for just 25 runs, leaving the Saints to score 202 for victory.
Emmanuel Coomaraswamy once again did the damage with the red leather, snaring 4/37 from eight devastating overs.
In reply, Troy Cashman steered the Saints toward victory, scoring a game-high 80 before being caught off the bowling of Pepper.
Cashman blasted nine fours and one six in his innings and was well supported by Jamie McDonnell (44), who was eventually stumped.
The Saints needed only 38 overs to reach the target, and did so with five wickets in hand.
It won’t be any easier for North Dandenong this weekend, beginning a two-day clash with top-of-the-table Berwick at Lois Twohig Reserve.
St Mary’s travels to Springvale South.
@BT Sub Sport News:Parkfield v Springvale South
Runs were hard to come by at Parkfield Reserve on Saturday when Parkfield defeated Springvale South in a lacklustre one-day match.
Springvale captain Craig Slocombe (3/24) won the toss and sent the opposition to the crease, and would have fancied his side’s chances after Parkfield (Tony Payne 32, Grant Milnes 26) finished its 40-over innings 6/177.
In reply, Springvale spent all its wickets for just 125 runs.
Daniel Law (44) continued his good form and was the pick of the batsmen.
Lance MacDougall’s 35 kept his average above 40 for the season, but the other Springvale batsmen hardly troubled the scorers.
Eight of the batsmen failed to make double figures as Springvale capitulated in the 30th over.
Parkfield’s win kept the fight for fourth spot on the Turf One ladder well and truly alive.
Springvale remains fourth, but Parkfield and Narre Warren, fifth and sixth respectively, are ready to pounce on a finals position.
Parkfield clashes with Dandenong West this weekend.
@BT Sub Sport News:Southern Pirates v Buckley Ridges
BUCKLEY Ridges made short work of the Southern Pirates and moved closer to a home final after a 143-run victory at Wachter Reserve on Saturday.
The Pirates’ only win of the day came before the first ball was bowled, when captain Peter Atkinson won the coin toss and sent the opposition in to bat.
Buckley Ridges opener Daniel Watson was relentless from the word go, smashing the Pirate bowlers through the on and off side field.
Watson scored 93, including 10 fours and one six, before being bowled by Stephen Ryalls.
He was well supported by Shane D’Rozario (59) and Basil Hobkirk (32).
At the completion of the 40 overs, Buckley had scored 6/245.
In reply, the Pirates hardly made a dent in the run chase and managed to score just 102 runs.
Ryalls was the only batsman to offer any resistance to the Buckley Ridges bowling attack, scoring 49 before being bowled by Westley Nicholas.
The win kept Buckley in second position on the ladder and left the swashbuckling Pirates firmly entrenched on the bottom.
