By Tyler Lewis
As far as wins go, few are going to come easier to Hallam Kalora Park than Saturday afternoon’s demolition of Narre Warren.
It was over in the blink of an eye, as the Hawks decimated the Pies in just 24 overs of cricket.
Jordan Hammond sent the visitors in at the toss, and it paid dividends, as his side destroyed the Pies for just 19.
Yes, 19.
The Pies largest partnership for the day was just 10, as number three James Elliott top scored with eight.
Hammond revealed he is still pinching himself about what he and his side achieved, while also crushing any scepticism that the pitch was unplayable.
“Absolutely, I think it would be the lowest score in Turf 1 I would’ve thought, it doesn’t happen very often,” he said.
“When you get a chance like that, it’s pretty good.
“As a side I don’t think they’re really up to Turf 1, to be honest.
“The wicket we got – everyone will talk about the wicket – but some of the shots they played were pretty poor as well.
“It just felt like we were going to keep going through on the weekend, it was a different feeling all together,” Hammond said.
It’s been a tough couple of the weeks for the Hawks, who lost to Buckley Ridges and Narre South, forcing the Hawks to pray for other results, while continuing to win.
“With our ladder position we were going to bowl no matter what, whether the wicket was an absolute road or if it had a bit in it, that was more the reason on bowling (first), he said.
“I don’t think it would’ve mattered what the wicket was like, it was a little bit slow, but at Hallam it’s always a new ball wicket anyway.
“Last year we won all the close games, this year we haven’t.
“Even in our warm-up it was a bit more jovial and once we got on a roll, I don’t think anyone was stopping us, wouldn’t matter which side we were playing,” Hammond said.
Hammond himself was the star of the show, capturing 5/8 from his 10 overs.
And while he is the boss on Saturday’s from mid-day, Hammond says his boss outside of that time let him have the morning off, and it resulted in some success for the both of them.
“It’s funny, sometimes my boss – big Wilbur Whyte my opening partner– makes me work Saturday mornings… we didn’t work this Saturday,” he joked.
“I know he is my boss but he sort of goes under the radar, he is bowling at the moment with about three injuries.
“After the weekend he bowled his overs and had to leave, he has a side strain and had to ice up after it.
“I think he has got something to do with his meniscus (as well), he is a warrior for us and I don’t think he gets enough credit for it.
“He always takes the wind which makes it harder (though), I have to push up hill so I thought ‘I am just going to bend my back and have a go today’, and it came out nicely,” Hammond said.
For Hallam Kalora Park to make finals, it will need to defeat North Dandenong and hope either Narre South loses to St. Mary’s, or Springvale South loses in dramatic fashion to Berwick.
While it is a tough scenario for the Hawks to come out of on top, Hammond says his side will just be focusing on what it can control, and that will come down to the toss again.
“We can’t control that (the ladder) so we just have to stay alive, win the game, that’s all we can do, he said.
“That is why if we win the toss this week we will bowl again”.
Buckley Ridges, meanwhile, has all but sewn up top spot, after a surprisingly difficult win over North Dandenong.
It has been a tough year for the Maroons – who sit in seventh with three wins – but Saturday was a performance that showed plenty of promise.
North Dandenong won the toss and predictably batted, as the tinge of grass at Park Oval threatened for the ground to be somehow quicker than usual.
The Maroons didn’t have it all their way, but it was two hands from Syed Mehmood and Austin Heldt (51) that helped them post a competitive score.
Mehmood strode to the crease at 1/15 and batted with utter class, finishing with 101 not out.
Travelling batters tend to be fooled by the short boundaries of Park, wanting to hit the fence each and every ball, but Mehmood batted with patience and knew the boundary ball would come.
His knock guided the Maroons to a very respectable score of 7/254 from 45 overs.
But unfortunately for Mehmood and his side, the Bucks are in just divine form.
Buckley Ridges never lost any wickets in clusters, with the lowest partnership still being 34 runs.
Each of the six batters used reached 20 or more, while Jayson Hobbs led the way with a match-winning knock of 75 not out.
Mahela Udawatte (48) was one of the six amongst the runs once again. His run of form has slid under the radar, but it is a crucial factor in why the Bucks are yet again premiership favourites.
In his 12 innings, Udawatte has fallen below 18 just twice and has a season total of 528 at 48.
The Bucks ultimately passed the Maroons in the 44th over with six wickets in hand.
While it is mathematically possible, the Bucks would need to lose to Narre Warren this week, and Berwick defeat Springvale South to give up top spot.
That Springvale South side did as it simply needed to do against St. Mary’s on Saturday at Alex Nelson Reserve.
The Bloods set the Saints 7/222 after Ryan Quirk’s first innings (56) half-century.
Excitingly for the Bloods, they could’ve really posted a much more convincing score, with six of the top seven reaching double-figures, but just Quirk going on with it.
The Saints were never really on track in pursuit, as the best spinner in the competition – Akshat Buch – was in full flight with the new rock.
When Buch captures 4/37 from 10 with two maidens at the top of the innings, it’s going to take something special from the opposition to defeat the Bloods.
Blade Baxter also continued his tremendous season with 4/15 off 7.2 overs. The Bloods speedster has not sent a batter packing on just three occasions this summer.
His 25 wickets at 15.8 is certain to earn him a team of the year selection this Sunday at the DDCA awards.
It was a big weekend for Narre South, meanwhile, with two games for the Lions to contend with.
While the Lions want to contend with the best sides, its match with Berwick on Saturday was a bit of a free hit, as it had St. Mary’s on Sunday.
The Bears set the Lions 7/220 from its 45 overs and had no trouble defending it, dismissing the Lions for 140.
Andrew Perrin returned from injury for the Bears, after a three week break.
On Sunday, the Lions took on the Saints in the rescheduled round-seven clash.
And after just five wickets since Christmas, Tim Phillips showed why he remains as one of the better quicks in the competition by doubling that tally with 5/32 in his sides must-win.
Phillips performance led the Lions to rolling the Saints for just 139.
Narre South had very little trouble in pursuit of the target, bringing home the win before drinks, with seven wickets in hand.
Harsha De Silva was terrific for the Lions with an unbeaten half-century.
The situation is simple this week for the Lions as they face the Saints once again… win = in.
TURF 1 LADDER
TEAM W L Pts
Buckley Ridges 10 2 63 1.4809
Berwick 9 3 57 1.4888
Springvale South 8 4 51 1.628
Narre South 8 4 51 1.0728
Hallam Kalora Park 7 5 45 1.3706
St Mary’s 3 9 21 0.5461
North Dandenong 3 9 15 0.7638
Narre Warren 0 12 3 0.4399
