By JARROD POTTER
Dandenong District Cricket Association – grand final
MAGIC work from Steve Spoljaric and Yoshan Kumara lit up the DDCA Turf 1 grand final as Parkfield set Springvale South (6/143) a challenging 242 after an early crisis.
Turf 1
ALL THE luck went with Springvale South early. Yoshan Kumara (9/60) destroyed anyone that came near his ferocious in-swingers from the Cheltenham Road end. Kumara at one stage on Saturday afternoon had the enviable figures of 5/14 having been on a hat-trick twice in the innings.
No great effort came from the Parkfield top order as they all succumbed to the Kumara-onslaught. It left all the premiership hopes on the shoulders of Parkfield’s most consistent character. Steve Spoljaric (106) showed why there is a trio of Alan Wookey Medals around his neck as he started the revival. A welcome sight back in the top ranks in the DDCA was at the other end to Spoljaric, as Shane Doig (28) helped the captain drag the Bears out of trouble. Doig and Spoljaric played dour and controlled innings to get to tea unbeaten and most importantly, with Parkfield at 6/127.
The pair notched their 100-run partnership soon after the main break before Doig’s valiant resistance came to an end via Kumara finding the edge and delivering it straight into Dylan Quirk’s waiting gloves – his third of the first day.
Spoljaric and Matt Aslett (46) added a further 82 more for the eighth wicket. It highlighted the depth of Parkfield’s attack with the lower order once again chipping in for significant runs.
Spoljaric raised the bat as the weather turned and the rain started falling. It was his third century of the season and his fourth against Springvale South – who are quickly becoming his bunnies.
Sunday started badly for Parkfield as Aslett (46) lost his bails to Kumara – the quick’s seventh scalp in an impressive 20 overs. Kumara’s eighth wicket was the best one yet – getting the edge off Spoljaric to end the magical innings for 106.
A rearguard innings from the last partnership, led by Shane Bell (20 not out) kept the Bloods at bay before Kumara claimed his ninth wicket to finish with figures of 9/60.
“Yeah it’s really good and I’m really happy,” Kumara commented on his big haul.
“It’s my first time in Australia and I’m very happy with my Springvale South team and all the support from the young team.”
“Yesterday was very good weather and with the new ball and good line and length there was very good movement… a very lucky day.”
Kumara thanked fellow bowlers Nathan King and Ruwantha Kellepotha for their help up the other end and confirmed he would return to Springvale South for the 2014/15 season.
Springvale South collapsed under the weight of pressure from Parkfield’s openers Matt Aslett (3/32) and Spoljaric (2/35) to be 5/34 at one stage before a rescue from captain Craig Slocombe (71 not out) guided the revival. With Jackson Sketcher (18) occupying the crease at the other end, the partnership pushed through a 77-run partnership before Sketcher fell to Doig (1/28). Andrew Sharp (9 not out) stayed the course with Slocombe to reach stumps. There will be 44 overs bowled next weekend to finish the grand final.
TURF 2
Southern Pirates was caught on the other end of some serious swashbuckling as Cranbourne (7/323) dominated the Pirates at Arch Brown Reserve.
Battling for promotion, the early inroads of Pirates’ bowler Matthew Perry (3/54 overnight) – getting the important wicket of Cranbourne captain Trevor Johnston (0) before the middle order turned the match on its head.
Daniel Polson (107) belted his first century of the season when it counted most – anchoring with Ben Maroney (59) to put on 119 in an outstanding fourth-wicket stand. The next partnership accrued 75 as Te Ahu Davis (31) put them on with the centurion. Chris George (36) arrived for Cranbourne next as Vibhav Damodaran (2/76) got some revenge on the boys who belted him about. Faisal Payenda (22 not out) and Matthew Weller (17 not out overnight) kept the initiative going as play was called off early.
Southern Pirates (129) couldn’t keep the Eagles at bay as Te Ahu Davis (4/41), Cameron Kelly (3/32) and Akaati Pupuke (3/23) ran through the Pirates’ batting.
Cranbourne won the premiership by 221 runs and has gained promotion to DDCA Turf 1 next season.
