Saints pray dropped catches don’t lose match

SEVEN dropped catches could cost Dandenong and District Cricket Association Turf One side St Mary’s a much-needed victory against Cranbourne on the final day of play this Saturday.
Batting first, Cranbourne approached the task sensibly and reached a competitive 8/218 on the first day of the round four clash.
The Saints could have been chasing a much smaller target but failed to grasp their opportunities when they arose.
While confident of making the runs next week, the Saints were kicking themselves at stumps after grassing more catches than they held.
After winning the toss and putting the opposition in on a softer than normal Carroll Reserve wicket, the Saints got off to a steady start with opening bowler Manny Coomaraswamy taking an economical 0/6 off eight overs.
In a cruel double blow for Coomaraswamy, a simple caught behind chance was grassed off his bowling, denying him his first wicket for the year.
He then strained a groin muscle and was forced to leave the field for the rest of the day.
South African-born English recruit Jonathan Nolan, who bears a striking resemblance to former English tearaway Andy Caddick, bowled good lines for the Saints.
He attacked the stumps and showed he was capable of being a valuable contributor at Turf One level, taking 2/53 off 16 overs.
Nolan did everything his Captain asked of him and is happy to be finally getting the results for the large amount of work he’s been putting into his bowling.
Spin twins Cameron McDonnell and Ash Henry bowled tight line and length, making scoring difficult for the Cranbourne batsmen.
Old stager McDonnell proved he’s still got it, troubling most batsmen and finishing with 2/54 off 23 overs while Henry, whose variation troubled the younger batsmen, took 2/70 off 24 overs.
The spinners have bowled well in tandem this year creating and maintaining pressure on batsmen with tight bowling and clever field placing.
For Cranbourne, it was a string of former Dandenong players who did the damage on the scoreboard.
Former Dandenong first XI player Matthew Moore and Cranbourne captain Ross Woodall batted sensibly, taking calculated risks when needed to keep the score ticking along after a slow start.
Woodall finished with a well-compiled 49 and Moore ended up unbeaten on 45 after some big hitting towards the end of the innings.
It was opening batsman and another former Dandenong player Aaron Warn who set the day up for Cranbourne. He batted till after tea and, while only making 26, set the stable platform for his team to bat around.
His long innings tired the St Mary’s attack so Woodall and Moore could take advantage and score quickly later in the innings.
After last week’s disappointing display, St Mary’s is desperate to make amends and bring home the points this week.
The middle order has not been up to scratch so far this season but is hungry for runs and keen to dispel the belief that St Mary’s is a one-man side.
The young St Mary’s middle order of Nick McKay, Rhys Serpanchy, Aaron Dragwidge and Viraj Mani-kkram – all aged under 25 – will need to get the majority of runs if the Saints are to win. For Cranbourne, a lot will depend on strike bowler Matthew Moore.
If it is going to win, Cranbourne will need to bowl St Mary’s out and Moore will have to take a bag of wickets.
While not as fast as he once was, Moore is an accurate bowler who won a first XI bowling average for Dandenong in the late 1990s.