Springvale South playing coach Craig Slocombe blasted a first-up century against Coomoora on Saturday.
THE Dandenong District Cricket Association Turf One season began with a whimper rather than a wallop on Saturday, with rain preventing play in three of the six scheduled matches.
Of the local sides, Buckley Ridges, St Mary’s, Dandenong West and Keysborough all spent frustrating afternoons in the pavilion – and will have to wait until Saturday to begin their 2007-08 campaigns.
Meanwhile, Springvale South, North Dandenong and Doveton signalled their intentions for the summer with impressive first-up performances.
Springvale South v Coomoora
Reigning premier Springvale South gave Turf Two champion Coomoora an inhospitable welcome back to Turf One, making roadkill of the Roos on its way to a total of 7/360 at stumps.
Springvale South openers Craig Slocombe (103) and Steve Masterson (79) ensured a nightmare start for Coomoora, blasting their way to a 199-run first-wicket partnership.
Coomoora captain-coach Rohan Paulpillai finally stopped the rot, claiming the prized scalp of his opposite number Slocombe before Masterson was run out by Andrew King shortly after.
After losing 4/26, the middle-order trio of Sharp (52), Quirk (41) and Simmons (32) steered Springvale South towards an imposing total of 360.
The Roos’ bowling attack had little to celebrate, with all of the six single-wicket takers receiving some punishment.
Paulpillai was the Roos’ most economical option, taking 1/32 off 12 overs, while Robert Johnston toiled admirably for his 1/71 from 20.
Parkfield v North Dandenong
After reaching the semi-final last season, North Dandenong delivered an early warning to Turf One batsmen, skittling Parkfield for 85 runs on Saturday.
Wayne Taylor was the chief destroyer for North Dandenong, taking 4/31 in 16.4 overs.
The only legitimate resistance came from Grant Milnes (22) and John O’Hare (29), who added 36 before the fall of the third wicket.
Any thoughts Parkfield had of a rearguard action were quashed by the introduction of Glen Pepper.
Pepper, who came into the attack to team with Taylor in his second spell, finished with figures of eight overs, four maidens, 3/7.
Earlier, David Bell had shown impeccable control with the new ball, bowling five maidens in his eight overs to snare 1/8.
In response, North Dandenong openers Glenn Finkelde (27) and Shane Clark (16) grafted their way to 0/44 in their 21 overs before stumps, leaving just 41 runs to get on Saturday to secure the victory.
Narre Warren v Doveton
A ton by former skipper Brad Downe has Doveton in a good position after day one of its encounter with Narre Warren at Sweeney Reserve on Saturday.
Downe (105) and Ryan Hendy (47) combined for a 69-run fourth-wicket partnership and Daniel Raines chipped in 30 to steer the Doves to 9/243.
David Wheeler in his first game for the Magpies was easily Narre Warren’s best with the ball in picking up 4/73 off 30 economical overs.
Doveton captain-coach Glen Lothian was pleasantly surprised with his side’s total.
“We’re very happy – that’s what we’ve been working towards all pre-season, but we’re only half done and we’ll need to finish the job next week,” he said.
“The pitch was pretty ordinary … we would have been happy with 150 to 180 (runs) at the start of the day, so we’re quite happy to go on with it.”
