By Stuart Teather
27488 Picture: Luke Plummer
THE final round of the Dandenong District Cricket Association’s Turf One competition kicked off on Saturday and Buckley Ridges’ Paul Rudd provided the highlight of the week, achieving the near impossible with a hat-trick against Hallam-Kalora Park.
Elsewhere, Doveton, Hallam-Kalora Park and North Dandenong are all battling it out for the last two places in the finals.
@BT Sub Sport News:Hallam-Kalora Park v Buckley Ridges
Paul Rudd’s hat-trick was the highlight of an otherwise glum day at Park Oval for Buckley Ridges.
Rudd tore through the home side’s batting line-up to claim a hat-trick and pick up his best figures for the year, with 6/16 off 7.3 overs.
But he was a lone figure for his side as Hallam-Kalora Park’s batsmen went on a rampage, belting their way to 303 off 78 overs.
@BT Sub Sport News:Narre Warren v North Dandenong
Narre Warren posted 180 in its clash with North Dandenong at Sweeney Reserve on the back of some solid contributions throughout the top order.
For the bowlers, Carman Mapatuna (3/41 off 20) was the standout, and removed both Van Dam and Perumal.
North Dandenong, currently in fifth position, needs to win if it is to break into the top four but also needs either Doveton or Hallam-Kalora Park to lose, as it is a long way behind on percentage.
@BT Sub Sport News:Keysborough v Cranbourne
The two bottom sides are locked in a battle for respect at Keysborough Reserve, with both sides fighting for their first win of the season.
Keysborough gave itself every opportunity on Saturday, eventually reaching 224 after a shaky start.
The top-order batsmen offered little throughout the innings and it took some impressive knocks from the tail-ender duo of Andrew Chapman (61) and Jacob Hennigan (55) to get the score on track.
Jason Toan was the pick of the bowlers, collecting season-best figures of 5/35 off 16, and he had solid support from Kyle Brooke (3/57 off 17.3).
@BT Sub Sport News:Springvale South v Parkfield
It was one versus two at Alex Nelson Reserve as undefeated top side Springvale South took on second-placed Parkfield, with the Parkers needing a win to guarantee passage into the finals.
Parkfield took to the crease on Saturday and posted a reasonable 233 against one of the strongest bowling attacks in the league.
Brad Houghton (62) and Hemantha Alles (58) were the best of the batsmen while for the bowlers Suranjith Silva (5/68 off 29) endured his heaviest workload of the season, for his best return.
@BT Sub Sport News:St Mary’s v Coomoora
St Mary’s and Coomoora are locked in an up-and-down clash at Carroll Reserve, with neither side able to grab the advantage on day one.
Coomoora went into bat first and survived a top-order collapse to post 163, largely thanks to some steady batting from the middle-order.
David Nutting (51) was the anchor of the innings from number six, and combined with Rizan Mawzoon (27) to lift the side out of danger.
But the home side failed to push the advantage when it took to the crease late in the day, falling to 4/32 off 17 crucial overs.
