Noble Park stays in hunt

NOBLE Park’s Premier League match against ladder leader Elsternwick was evenly poised when the visitors reached 9/247 on a batsman-friendly Noble Park wicket last Saturday.
Elsternwick had no hesitation in batting after winning the toss but Noble Park got the early upper hand when Ash Perera and Damien Fleming picked up a wicket each inside the first 10 overs.
An 82-run partnership between Elsternwick captain Brad O’Shea and Tim Morrison helped the visitors climb back before sharp fielding by Mark Rendle found Morrison (27) short of his crease. When Fleming had his ex-South Melbourne teammate Andrew Chisholm caught by Sharni Perera shortly after, Elsternwick was 4/108.
Cam Christiansen joined O’Shea at the crease and they took the score to 4/123 off 42 overs at the tea break. After tea 55 runs were added before Rendle broke the partnership, having Chistiansen caught behind for 27.
With 20 overs to go Elsternwick was 6/187 and danger man O’Shea had reached his century and looked like he could bat all day. Noble Park was staring at a 300-plus chase until Rod Douthie snared the vital wicket of O’Shea lbw for 118.
The Elsternwick tail then frustrated the bowlers and steadily took the total to 9/247 at stumps.
Fleming finished with 2/23 off 15 overs, Douthie 2/44, Ash Perera 1/52 off 22 overs and Rendle 1/29.
The second XI’s finals hopes were on the line after Noble Park was dismissed for 160.
Noble Park started badly, slumping to 4/38 off 29 overs before reaching 6/77 at tea. The innings built respectability thanks to a 56-run seventh-wicket stand between Paul O’Meara (40) and Sean Schubert (34).
In reply Elsternwick reached 0/14.
A maiden century by 19-year-old Michael Todd set the foundation for the third XI to make 262.
Todd smashed 16 boundaries on his way and was finally dismissed for 125. He had support from acting captain Andrew Love, who made 51, and Nirosh Fonseka, who made 30.
The fourth XI dismissed Elsternwick for 214.
Dave Parker took 4/35 off 13 overs, Andrew Dennis 3/51 off 21 overs and Thomas Smith 3/8 off only 1.3 overs. In reply Noble Park was 1/23 at stumps.