By JARROD POTTER
Dandenong District Cricket Association – T20
BUCKLEY Ridges (3/168) hoisted the DDCA Twenty20 premiership for the sixth time on Wednesday night, knocking off Berwick (6/166).
On the alternate Buckley Ridges ground Wilson Oval, Berwick went about belting a few runs into the ledger quickly as Bathiya Perera (73 not out) anchored the innings with an impressive half-century including five sixes. With strong support from Nirmal Wickramaratne (44) the Bears managed to set 167 for victory with Buckley Ridges’ Jeremy Kuru (3/17) the best of the bowlers.
With DDCA Turf 1 2012/13 premiership hero Daniel Watson (21) back from Premier Cricket duties with Casey-South Melbourne, the Ridges got off to a good start, with Watson and Antonio Greenidge (32) adding 52 for the first wicket before both men fell rapidly as Adam Watson (2/24) and Ryan Crawford (1/19) snared the scalps.
From there Buckley Ridges’ all-round import Luke Fletcher (66 not out) punished Berwick and lifted six sixes en route to chasing down the target with two overs in arrears.
The DDCA T20 competition is only in its eighth season, yet Buckley Ridges has won six premierships (with Berwick taking out the other two), which is a remarkable effort.
Buckley Ridges won $1100 and the DDCA Twenty20 premiership cup while Berwick settling for the runners-up prize of $700.
