Above: Springvale South paceman Danny Law launches into a delivery against Doveton on Saturday.
By Paul Pickering and Marc McGowan
PARKFIELD has recorded the first significant upset in the Dandenong District Cricket Association (DDCA) Turf One season, resolutely defending a total of 7/250 to hold off Berwick in a day-two thriller at Arch Brown Reserve.
Elsewhere on Saturday, leading sides took full advantage of perfect conditions to ram home their ascendancy from day one.
Springvale South never looked under threat from Doveton, North Dandenong rolled over the top of cross-town rival Dandenong West, St Mary’s held Narre Warren at bay, Coomoora fell agonisingly short of Cranbourne’s mediocre total and Buckley Ridges comfortably skittled Keysborough.
St Mary’s d Narre Warren
Having grafted a handy total of 228 and secured two Narre Warren wickets before stumps the previous weekend, St Mary’s was poised to strike on Saturday morning.
But the Magpies mounted a rear-guard action through skipper Wendell Perumal (42), Duane Hughes (46) and Matt Darvell (21) on the second day, taking the total to 4/112.
As stout as Perumal and Hughes had been in combining for 86 in some 281 balls, the mid-to-lower order provided little resistance – capitulating to be all out for 170.
Emmanuel Coomaraswamy (4/42) – who had picked up the vital two wickets the previous week – added another pair of scalps, while Jake Needham took 2/28 from his 15 overs.
Springvale South d Doveton
Springvale South followed up the first week’s imperial batting display with an impressive team bowling performance on Saturday, dismantling Doveton to win by 157 runs.
Defending 8/305, Springvale South’s frontline attack of Gavin Fewkes (3/32), Nick Bole-Brown (2/22), Danny Law (1/15) and Brad Sessler (1/23) ensured there was no respite for the struggling Doves batsmen.
But it was Andrew Sharp who again stole the show, taking 3/21 from five overs to add to his 75 not out with the bat.
Sharp has now taken 6/41 and scored 122 runs without being dismissed in his two matches.
For the hapless Doves, only Daniel Raines (54) was willing and able to take on the Springvale South attack.
Buckley Ridges d Keysborough
Responding to Buckley Ridges’ competitive total of 9/203, Keysborough lost openers Chanaka Gunawardana and Dinusha Happawana with the score locked on 22 on Saturday.
The wickets continued to flow steadily at Keysborough Reserve, with only captain Paul McDonald (24) and Sri Lankan Dhanushka Ekanayake (21) firing more than a parting shot in a total of 152.
Matt Goodright was the pick of the bowlers for Buckley Ridges, taking 3/19 from 11 mechanical overs, while Shane D’Rozario (3/55) received just reward for his 20 overs.
The opening pairing was well supported by Anthony Clarke-Bruce (2/25) and Westley Nicholas (2/34).
North Dandenong d Dandenong West
Needing just 51 runs to eclipse Dandenong West’s score of 153 from the first day’s play, North Dandenong cruised to victory despite losing the early wicket of playing coach Glenn Finkelde (43) on Saturday.
After opener Shane Clarke (58) had put North Dandenong in an irresistible position, all that was left for the team was some handy batting practice for Adrian Baltruschaitis (37) and Craig Leonard (30).
Even tail-ender Wayne Taylor (34) joined the party with an impressive knock to help his team to a total of 267.
Three Bulls bowlers shared the spoils, with Shannon Marum (3/43), Shaun Weir (3/54) and Matt Meehan (3/65) all toiling admirably.
Parkfield d Berwick
Parkfield produced the first upset of the season on Saturday by rolling Berwick by 13 runs at Arch Brown Reserve.
After posting 7/250 in its innings, Parkfield was confident of defending its total.
In response, Berwick was cruising at 1/72 before losing three wickets for three runs.
But the team battled on, with captain Ash Henry (44) and Gavan Wills (34) providing typical fight and leadership.
They forged a 78-run alliance and Brad Molineux (36) and Ryan Crawford (31) also contributed to take the Bears to the brink of victory.
It was not to be, however, as the one-two bowling punch of Hemantha Alles (3/54) and Shane Doig (3/72) combined to dismiss Berwick for 237.
Cranbourne d Coomoora
Cranbourne consigned Turf One newcomer Coomoora to its second straight defeat in a thriller at Coomoora Reserve on Saturday.
The 10-run victory kicked off what is expected to be an improved season for the Eagles.
There were worrying times in the fixture for Cranbourne, however, particularly after struggling to 228 and watching as the Roos went to stumps 22 runs without loss.
But it was a far more hostile environment for Coomoora’s batsmen on the weekend, with the Eagles pouring on the pressure.
Man of the match Shane Murdoch followed up his team-leading 69 with the willow to record the best figures of 3/49.
Despite Murdoch’s performance, the Roos were solid all day and looked to have done enough when they crept to 8/218.
Unfortunately, they failed to add another run as Robert Johnston was run out and then Matt Moore (2/33) uprooted the stumps of Carlos Hereford to seal the result.
