By Stuart Teather
ROUND one of the Dandenong District Cricket Association’s 2008/09 season came to a close on Saturday, with some surprise results across the divisions.
Reigning premier Berwick suffered a shock loss to Buckley Ridges, while the newly promoted Hallam-Kalora Park had an ideal start to its Turf One campaign.
All games were completed on the weekend after a number were postponed the week before due to ground conditions.
Berwick v Buckley Ridges
Buckley Ridges shocked the reigning premier Berwick, chasing down the home side’s 228 with eight overs to spare at Arch Brown Reserve.
Paul Rudd (49) and William Buttler (82) combined for a 110-run third-wicket partnership, but the team was left at 3/137 when Rudd fell, and the dismissal triggered a middle-order collapse.
Buckley Ridges quickly found itself at 9/186, but a half-century to Ben Watson (50 not out) and a superb defensive effort from number 11 Westley Nicholas (7 not out) guided the team past Berwick’s total.
For Berwick, James Prendergast led the bowling with 4/34 off 13 overs.
Will Carr was also dangerous with 3/36 off 14 overs.
Narre Warren v Keysborough
Narre Warren backed up its sensational 7/413 on day one with a clinical bowling display, helping the side to victory over Keysborough.
David Wheeler ripped through Keysborough’s top order on Saturday morning, allowing just 11 runs between the top three batsmen.
Wheeler finished with figures of 4/25 from the first innings as Keysborough limped to 104 off 46 overs.
St Mary’s v Springvale South
After a stunning batting display on day one of the two-day game, Springvale South successfully defended its 7/353 against St Marys at Keysborough Reserve. St Marys put up a strong fight, led by captain Troy Cashman (82) and Dan Davis (59), with the pair putting on a 135-run second-wicket partnership.
But when Michael Davies (1/35) claimed Cashman’s prized scalp the wickets began to tumble, and when Nick Bole-Brown (2/38) claimed Davis’ wicket 10 runs later, alarm bells started ringing for St Marys, before the side made it to 9/276.
Nick McKay (36) showed some resistance but in the end Springvale South’s Craig Slocombe/Michael Davies 183-run day-one partnership proved to be the difference between the two sides.
Cranbourne v North Dandenong
Cranbourne and North Dandenong played a one-dayer after the game was postponed on the opening weekend of the season, and North Dandenong took the points thanks to some efficient batting.
Cranbourne opener Jason Hameeteman set the pace with 69 and had some good support from Dean McDonell (39) and captain Ross Woodall (36), helping the side to 5/164 after its 40 overs.
But North Dandenong hauled the total in with seven balls to spare, thanks to a commanding 62 from Carman Mapatuna, and 48 to Shane Leonard.
Coomoora v Parkfield
A top-order collapse from Coomoora saw the side post just 9/135 in its clash with Parkfield, a score that Parkfield comfortably overhauled. The total could have been a lot worse if not for a 66-run tenth-wicket partnership between David Nutting (49 not out) and Justin Woodman (14 not out), who came together when the team was languishing at 9/69.
