By Nick Creely
DDCA TURF 1 REVIEW ROUND 9 (DAY 1)
Hallam-Kalora Park v Springvale South
Well they possess the most consistent top-order batsmen in the competition, and once again they have delivered as the Hawks posted a tricky 7/247 against Springvale South.
Ben Hillard (59), Leigh Booth (30) and Jagveer Hayer (42) have been a cornerstone for the Hawks’ success with the bat this season, constantly providing the ladder-leader with solid foundations.
Corey Booth (53 not out) then provided the cream on top, with a second consecutive half-century, as the Hawks knocked around runs to stumps.
It’s going to be a tough chase, but a chase that may define just how serious of a contender the Bloods truly are.
Berwick v North Dandenong
The Bears are charging towards finals, totally dominating proceedings against North Dandenong at The Cave.
The Maroons elected to bat, and with Jarrod Armitage and James Wilcock steaming in, the task was always going to be difficult.
And the pair were simply electric early, with Wilcock (2/25) in particularly taking the stumps of the two openers out of the ground and Armitage (4/27) bowling some serious heat – at one stage a pair of bouncers delivered to Caleb Millman were as quick as any deliveries seen in the competition this season.
The visitors were rattled ever since then, rolled for just 104 with Clayton McCartney (31) showing his class once again.
Berwick are currently 4/151, with Nathan Pilon (84) playing a brutal knock, and eyeing an outright victory next week.
Dingley v Cranbourne
If the Dingoes can do the unthinkable next week and knock off the champion Eagles the Turf 1 competition will go into a tail-spin.
That is how interesting this match at Souter Oval has become, with no side taking any ascendency after day one and very little separating third from eighth on the ladder.
The Dingoes made 195, a very competitive home score, with Matt Chasemore (4/34) and Steve Spoljaric (4/79) carrying the bowling.
And the Eagles survived the day, finishing on 0/15 in a pressure-filled little period.
Parkfield v Narre Warren
There has been a lot more fight in the tank for Narre Warren in recent weeks, and it is a big chance to claim its first win of the season over a struggling Parkfield outfit.
The Bears elected to bat, where they never really got going, skittled for just 153 – the impressive Mitchell Shirt (4/23) was destructive, while Janaka Liyanabadalge (3/19) has risen with the ball in the last couple of matches.
With a testing 28-over period before stumps, the Magpies battled and battled, content to get through the day unscathed, finishing on 1/37 off 28 overs.
Daniel Orchard (10) and Mitchell Shirt (11) are the not out batsman.
Buckley Ridges v Dandenong West
A terrific half-century to Buckley Ridges middle-order bat Paul Rudd (71) has seen the Bucks walk off Park Oval in a dominant position.
Winning the toss and batting, the Bucks were flaying the ball to all parts, racking up 7/279 before declaring four overs from stumps.
Westers all-rounder Shaun Weir (5/79) was a shining light in another tough day.
The visitors are 0/7 off four overs.
Heinz-Southern Districts v Mordialloc
All eyes were on Mordialloc, who need to keep winning to stave off the hungry teams just below them, and when the Cobras were 1/70, it looked like a big score was on the cards.
But fast-forward just a few hours later, and the Bloodhounds wrestled the control back like a finals-bound team should do, rolling the opposition for just 124.
Despite the tremendous collapse, Cobras skipper Matthew Cox (47) battled hard despite very little help around him.
The Bloodhounds went in to face the music with the bat and are currently 2/43 off 20 overs, 82 runs short of coming out the winners of the round.
Kaushalya Weeraratne (1/16) and Jackson Philipin (1/6) have the early wickets.
