By Gavin Staindl
SUCCESSFULLY chasing down targets were of Everest proportions on day two of the Dandenong and District Cricket Association turf grades.
Only one of the Turf One teams was able to chase down the totals posted by teams on day one. In fact, apart from Hallam-Kalora Park and the valiant attempt by Buckley Ridges to haul in Doveton’s massive total of 292, none of the teams batting second came close to capturing the six points given for a first innings victory.
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Buckley Ridges
BUCKLEY Ridges needed to climb a mountain to surpass Doveton’s 292, and in the end, their 283 at Park Oval was an admirable score, but will not have an impact on the standings.
The Ridges were well placed early on with the top six batsmen each making a score of 30 or more.
Ben Watson made a season-high 60, while Simon Fonceca, Richard Hope and Paul Franks all made scores above 40.
At 5/230, the successful run chase was a real possibility for the Ridges as they looked to kick-start their ailing season.
However, when Nathan Wilson (2/19) and Bradley Downe (2/18) began their bowling spell late in the innings, Buckley Ridges began to falter.
The five remaining Ridges batters were skittled for a combined 19 runs, leaving the total stranded at 283 – nine runs short of a victory.
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St Mary’s
THE opening 60-run stand was the only positive for St Mary’s as they blew a chance to enter the top four, and now sit middle of the ladder at two wins and two losses.
Needing 201and getting off to a good start at Carroll Reserve were Brendan Rydquist (45) and Troy Cashman (24), who helped St Mary’s to reach 80 without losing a wicket.
But a middle-order collapse sparked by Shane Bell (3/29) and Brad Houghton (2/14) took St Mary’s from 1/80 to all out for 115.
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Keysborough
SPRINGVALE South has successfully defended a total of 217 by bowling Keysborough out for 104 at Keysborough Reserve on the weekend.
Craig Slocombe took five wickets for 19 runs as the Springvale bowlers consistently took wickets when needed throughout the day.
At times the Keysborough batters looked like digging in and getting off to a bigger score – but each time the Springvale bowlers were able to peg them back.
Shiran Rajakaruna (20), Andrew Staude (18) and Andre Peters (17) all looked dangerous before all being dismissed by stump-to-stump bowling.
The win now leaves Springvale a game clear of Keysborough, which is in fourth position and hanging perilously close to falling out of the top four.
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Coomoora
NARRE Warren has recorded its first victory of the season after cruising to a 154-run victory at Coomoora Reserve.
Set 295, Coomoora never looked like reaching the target as Trent Anderson (5/65) took control of the innings.
He was backed up by Ryan Christie (2/12) and between them they were able to knock over the Coomoora batters with ease.
Coomoora was eventually bowled out for 141 and the only saving grace for Coomoora was tailender Troy Jeffs who smashed 54 runs and put some late life back into the innings.
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North Dandenong
NICHOLAS Cox has dragged his team to a convincing win over North Dandenong at Lois Twohig Reserve on the weekend.
Faring the same as most of the teams batting second, Hallam-Kalora Park fell to 5/71 but to the relief of Hallam-Kalora Park, their sixth batter Nick Cox hit a score that nearly beat the team total of North Dandenong. His 121 along with Damien Jordon’s 34 produced a 153-run partnership that led to a winning score of 234.
David Bell (2/19) and Scott Neeson (2/24) had North Dandenong in a strong position early but the failure to take the wicket of Cox left Hallam-Kalora Park only half a game behind table leaders Berwick.
