By ROY WARD
NOBLE Park has announced itself as a candidate for the Victorian Sub District Cricket Association finals with an impressive win over Mount Waverley on Saturday.
Noble Park won by 96 runs at Pat Wright Senior Oval with excellent batting and even better bowling, prompting captain Marasinghe Perera to call his attack “the best in the comp”.
Inconsistent bowling allowed the home side to get away to a strong start and Darren Seccull (48) and Chanaka Gunawardana made 58 for the first wicket.
Perera (62) and Mevan Fernando (65 not out) combined to make a 77-run stand for the fifth wicket, allowing their side to make 7-234 from 45 overs.
In response, Mt Waverley needed its top order to fire but fell to 3-27 and never recovered as Noble Park opening bowlers Rizan Mawzoon (3-26) and Elphan Pepola (1-18) bowled tightly.
Mount Waverley captain Dhugal Bedingfield (36) and Andrew Northridge put on 38 for the fourth wicket. But after Perera (4-26) bowled Northridge around his legs, the visitors lost steady wickets and were bowled out for 136 from 36.2 overs.
View picture gallery of Noble Park-Mount Waverley clash.
Perera said his bowling attack could excel in all conditions and was much improved this season. “I reckon we have the best bowling attack in the comp,” he said. “We have lots of variation with three fast bowlers and three spinners. We’ve got it all covered.
Bedingfield said Noble Park was a much-improved side. “We always knew they had a couple of good players but it was their fringe players, who we didn’t know so much about, who performed well. They will be good this year,” he said.
Perera said his side had worked hard over the off-season and wanted to make an impact on the 2012-13 season.
“It was really good to get the first one. The first game is crucial and whatever we win before Christmas sets up the whole tournament.
“The openers did fantastic. They batted until the 20th over. They set up the foundation and we carried it on from there.”
He said his own form was a product of the club’s hard work in the off-season. “We have practised hard for the past couple of months.”
Noble Park plays Brunswick this Saturday.
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