Saints bats fail to sizzle

AFTER the promise of an epic battle, the DDCA round-three, day-two clash between Hallam and St Mary’s turned out to be a whitewash when the Saints bats failed by more than 100 in their run chase of 232.
This was thanks to some precise bowling from a disciplined Hallam and a disappointing St Mary’s top order.
The dangerous and unpredictable Andrew Lee opened the attack for the Hawks with the amazingly accurate Michael Houeix.
Whilst Lee troubled the Saints with pace, Houeix tied up an end by bowling very accurately, making it difficult even for St Mary’s run machine Troy Cashman to push the score along.
Fellow opener Gary Cake was the first to depart with the score on 11.
He took on Lee with a hook shot, however the ball was on him quicker than he thought and presented a simple catch at backward square leg.
Next to go for St Mary’s was Nick McKay.
After a promising start McKay tickled one through to Hallam wicketkeeper Graeme Jessiman, off the bowling of Sean McLaughlin, to be dismissed for three, leaving the Saints struggling at 2/23.
Aaron Dragwidge didn’t last long after a great ball from Houeix hit the top of off stump and sent the Hawks into a frenzy with the score at 3/38.
St Mary’s Michael Turner was next to the crease, the perfect person to come in given the situation.
Unfortunately for the Saints it wasn’t Turner’s day as he edged a McLaughlin outswinger straight to Jessiman to leave the Saints limping to 4/48.
The Saints still had hope as their best batsman Cashman was still at the crease and the Hallam players knew he was the key wicket.
That hope was destroyed when Houeix finally got his man and had Cashman caught for 36, leaving the Saints at 5/58.
St Mary’s all rounder Ash Henry was the next out, dismissed for three with the Saints reeling at 6/63 and the score line starting to look ugly for the Saints.
Lucky DDCA veteran Cam McDonnell batted patiently and guided second gamer Viraj Manikkam.
Batting for 15 overs they put on 18 for the seventh wicket leaving the Saints at 7/81 when Manikkam was dismissed for 13.
McDonnell continued his patient innings with Paul Sharp before being caught at cover off the bowling of Brown for 26.
By this stage the score looked a little more respectable at 8/109 after a sub-100 dismissal looked likely.
When Sharp was out for 15 and Jonathan Nolan dismissed for two, the Saints were bundled out for 124 on a pitch that was a good batting wicket.
For the Hawks, Houeix, Lee and McLaughlin were the best of the bowlers taking two wickets apiece.
This week St Mary’s hosts Cranbourne in a crunch game if it wants to play finals and Hallam play Parkfield in what will be a very even contest.