Game in the balance for Bulls

NOBLE Park Cricket Club’s first XI has a game on its hands after being dismissed for 177 by local rival Endeavour Hills on Saturday in their Victorian Sub District Cricket Association match.
After being sent in to bat, Noble Park openers Andrew Brown and Andrew O’Meara took the total to 20 before O’Meara was adjudged lbw for 14.
When Brown was run out for 4 in the 11th over, the Bulls were 2/24.
Coach Rod Douthie and Steve Croft started to get the innings on a roll with the total reaching 53 when Croft (12) was caught in slip.
Gavin Hurley joined Douthie and they added 17 runs before Hurley was caught for 8.
The score was soon 5/70 when Sharni Perera was out lbw.
Paul Hill joined Douthie and added a further 28 before Hill (6) was caught at the wicket in the last over before tea with the score a sorry 6/98 off 44.1 overs.
After the break, Douthie was dismissed for 49 with the addition of only 5 runs.
When Mark Rendle was caught for 9 Noble Park was in real trouble at 8/110.
Kynan Ford and Paul McDonald added 39 valuable runs before McDonald was out for 23.
Andrew Berman and Ford then added a further 36 with Ford the last out for 33, Berman the not out batsman sitting on 16.
With seven overs to bowl Croft ripped through the Endeavour Hills top order, taking 3/8 off 3.1 overs to have the home side 3/16 at stumps.
Noble Park’s second XI was dismissed for 177 with Darren Seccull top scoring with 41, Shane Pietersz (35) and Geoff Richardson (32) lending support. At stumps Endeavour Hills was 2/15.
The third XI dismissed Endeavour Hills for 192, Andrew Dennis taking 3/32, Lyle D’Rozario 2/25, Ash Ganser 2/31 and Johann Wise 2/33.
Noble Park’s fourth XI recorded a victory in their one-day fixture, reaching 8/165 with Michael Martindale top scoring with 71 and James Goodall making 48.
In reply Endeavour Hills was dismissed for 130, Bharvin Pharvu taking 4/19 and captain Andrew Parker 3/31.