West and Saints tie it up

DESPITE last Saturday week’s rain and subsequent loss of almost an entire day’s play, the Dandenong and District Cricket Association (DDCA) decided not to schedule all matches as one-day games, but instead complete round 11 fixture.
The decision saw the St Mary’s and Dandenong West Turf One match result in an entertaining draw.
St Mary’s captain Paul Sharp was praised for making an early declaration, as well as the Dandy West batsmen who had a go at reaching the target instead of using the time for batting practice leading into the finals.
Resuming at 3/45, with star pair Ash Henry and Troy Cashman already back in the pavilion, the Saints were up against it from the start.
However with positive cricket, they kept the scoreboard ticking along and managed to set a target of 183 off 44 overs for Dandy West to chase.
Thirty nine-year-old St Mary’s vice-captain Michael Turner top scored for the Saints with 31 finishing off his most productive season in 10 years at the club.
Gary Cake finished with 29 and up-and-comer Rhys Serpanchy was caught and bowled for 27.
In his final game, DDCA legend Cameron McDonnell was unfortunately adjudged lbw for 21.
The chase started slowly for Dandy West with Matt Sofoulis and Ben Logan opening the batting.
Sofoulis edged a Jonathan Nolan leg-cutter to Gary Cake for the simplest of catches on three and it got the ball rolling for the Saints.
McDonnell was then brought into the attack and got a wicket with his first ball. A full toss on leg stump was hit straight to Ash Henry at midwicket.
Burgess then joined Logan and put on 87 for the fourth wicket that virtually took the game away from St Mary’s.
The two batted positively and kept the scoreboard moving. Logan was eventually dismissed by Dane Harkin after a superb catch from Michael Turner.
Paul Sharp then introduced himself into the attack and took three quick wickets and all of a sudden St Mary’s was back in the game with the score at 7/160 with four overs remaining.
It wasn’t to be however with Dandenong West ending up needing seven off the last over, but could only manage five.
When the history of the DDCA is written, McDonnell’s name will surely join the likes of Meyer, Lambert, Chapman, Pattinson, Tannahill, Fewkes and Jamie McDonnell as the greatest DDCA all-rounders of all time.
He will be sadly missed by both team-mates and opposition.