By ROY WARD
HEINZ Southern Districts’ batsmen led their side to a confidence-boosting win over Hallam Kalora Park in the DDCA turf 1 competition on Saturday.
HSD was set the task of chasing 132 and resumed at Reedy Reserve on 1-22.
HSD captain Trevor Davies commended his batsmen for forming several partnerships in the top order as the home side passed Hallam Kalora Park’s total, finishing play on 6-169.
“We had a similar chase the match before and fell in a heap, so getting a few partnerships early made the difference,” he said.
“Our bowling and fielding have never been an issue for us, but our batting has let us down in the past. It seems to be getting itself right.
“When we get the chance to get six points at this time of year we need to capitalise, because with the weather the way it is you need as many points as you can get.”
Michael Davies (53) top-scored and opener Garrick Wiramanaden (32) played an important role in the chase.
Johan Vorster (2-42) and Lee Brown (2-51) were the best of the visiting bowlers.
Trevor Davies also praised his bowlers for setting up the win on day 1 by bowling out the visitors, who were in solid form coming into the match. Michael Davies snapped up 4-27 and Paul Stockdale took 2-25.
“It was all set up on day one with good slow bowling and good fielding, ” he said. “We were very happy to restrict them to a really gettable total.
“The bowling attack we have makes things pretty easy for me as a captain because I know they won’t get frustrated and will keep at their lines all day.”
HSD faces another stern test this Saturday when it begins a two-day clash with Doveton at Robinson Reserve.
“Doveton has had a few low scores in the past few weeks; confidence can be a big thing in cricket,” Davies said. “But they have the sort of side which can tear a game apart at any minute.”
In other turf 1 matches, Dandenong West made it two wins from two and sits on top of the ladder after a very impressive win over Doveton on Saturday.
Defending its total of 238, West bowled out the Doves for 88 then had them 2-39 when play concluded.
Berwick completed an outright win over Coomoora, making 215 in response to a total of 95 before bowling out Coomoora a second time with the undermanned side finishing 9-87.
West Indian import Ryan Hercules followed up his three first-innings wickets with 43 runs and Ash Henry was the destroyer in the second innings with 5-21.
Buckley Ridges got a fighting win over Parkfield. Ridges made 144 in the first innings then bowled out Parkfield for a disappointing 83.
Springvale South kept Narre Warren below its first-innings total of 307. The Magpies were bowled out for 267.
Bloods bowler Matheesha Perera took 6-107 and Magpies No. 3 batsman Ateeq Javid (80) and opening batsman Nathan King (58) gave their side a chance early before being dismissed.
Mordialloc beat North Dandenong.
DDCA turf 1: Dandenong West, 12 points, 2.90 run rate; Mordialloc 12; 2.17; Berwick 10, 1.30; Springvale South 9, 0.92; Hallam Kalora Park 6, 1.41; Buckley Ridges 6, 1.22; Heinz Southern Districts 6, 1.21; Parkfield 6, 1.03; Coomoora 6, 0.61; Doveton 3, 0.58; Narre Warren 0, 0.51; North Dandenong 0, 0.31.
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