By Glen Atwell and Marc McGowan
AS the Dandenong District Cricket Association season draws to a close, five teams are vying for a position in the final four.
@BT Sub Sport News:Keysborough v North Dandenong
Keysborough successfully defended its meagre total of 181 against North Dandenong on Saturday.
North Dandenong resumed the match at Keysborough Reserve precariously placed at 2/38, and capitulated to be all out for 129.
Scott Neeson, who took 6/32 when he rampaged through the Keysborough batting order last week, was North Dandenong’s shining light with the bat, scoring 45.
Captain Adrian Baltruschaitis was the only other batsman to make a reasonable contribution, scoring 19 before being bowled by Mahshan Perera.
Perera was the best of the Keysborough bowlers, taking 3/22.
Channa Gunawardana and Hemantha Alles also took important wickets, snaring three each.
The loss leaves North Dandenong, currently fourth on the Turf One ladder, in a four-team battle to make the finals.
With only two games remaining in the regular season, North Dandenong must win its next game against Dandenong West to stay in the finals race.
@BT Sub Sport News:Parkfield v Buckley Ridges
Parkfield moved one step closer to stealing second spot on the Turf One ladder from Buckley Ridges after a convincing win at Parkfield Reserve on Saturday.
Chasing 122, Parkfield made no mistake in the run chase and claimed the six points with ease.
Best with the bat was John O’Hare (50), who made his first half-century of the season.
Tony Payne’s contribution of 29 was also important.
Westley Nicholas was the best with the ball for Buckley Ridges, taking 4/44.
Parkfield’s victory has caused a top-end bottleneck on the ladder.
Berwick has top spot secured with 49 points, but the second, third, fourth and fifth teams are all locked on 33 points.
So tight is the ladder that even sixth-placed Springvale South, on 30 points, could finish as high as second.
Buckley Ridges hosts Narre Warren this Saturday while Parkfield travels to Doveton – both are must-win games.
@BT Sub Sport News:Southern Pirates v Dandenong West
Dandenong West has launched itself from near-bottom on the Turf One ladder with a strong win against serial cellar dweller Southern Pirates on Saturday.
Chasing the respectable total of 203, Dandenong West made the run chase look easy, amassing 7/224 to secure the six points.
David Dryden was the pick of the willow wielders, scoring 54 runs.
Peter Lindsay (38), Shannon Marum (37) and Matthew Sofoulis (35) all made helpful contributions.
@BT Sub Sport News:St Mary’s v Cranbourne
Cranbourne survived a defiant St Mary’s challenge to record a one-run victory at Carroll Reserve on Saturday to keep its slim finals chances alive.
After flogging 6/310 off their 80 overs the previous weekend, the Eagles would have expected a comfortable second day against the struggling hosts.
St Mary’s had different ideas and did not lose its first wicket until 57, when Troy Cashman’s (43) eight-boundary knock came to an end.
With Jamie McDonnell (87), Gary Cake (56 not out) and Jonathan Parsons (52) joining Cashman in the run feast, St Mary’s moved to 3/206.
Wily Cranbourne spinner Steven Miller (5/75) eventually wore the opposition down and claimed three straight wickets to leave St Mary’s stumbling at 9/286.
Number 11 batsman Stuart Dowel managed to stick around with Cake to give his side a chance, but with a ball left and four runs still required to win, the Eagles’ total proved just enough.
@BT Sub Sport News:Berwick v Springvale South
Berwick displayed its premiership credentials once again in ruthlessly disposing of Springvale South by 91 runs at Arch Brown Reserve on the weekend.
The Bears beat the Bloods by four wickets in last season’s grand final to claim their first pennant in a decade.
The game appeared to be in the balance heading into the weekend’s play after a 55-run final wicket partnership pushed the Berwick total to 212.
Springvale South resumed at 1/16 and it did not take long for the Bears to strike and restrict the visitors to 2/19.
A slight recovery ensued, but once the third wicket fell at 56 it all came crashing down for the Bloods.
It was the start of a collapse in which eight wickers fell for 65 runs, with Berwick captain-coach Will Carr (3/46) the chief beneficiary.
