English all-rounder Alex Roberts launches into a delivery during Berwick’s win over Narre Warren on Saturday.By Paul Pickering and Marc McGowan
THE Dandenong District Cricket Association (DDCA) Turf One summer resumed with a trio of marquee one-day match-ups on Saturday as the top six sides squared off against each other.
Returning to the crease after a month-long hiatus, ladder leader Springvale South showed no signs of rust in accounting for St Mary’s, Berwick easily overhauled Narre Warren to tighten its grip on second place and Buckley Ridges stole North Dandenong’s spot in the top four.
Meanwhile, Parkfield cruised to victory over Doveton, Cranbourne beat Keysborough and Dandenong West eclipsed Coomoora.
Springvale South d St Mary’s
St Mary’s faced the unenviable prospect of beginning 2008 with a trip to Alex Nelson Reserve to face unbeaten reigning premier Springvale South.
And while the Saints could not escape with the points, they went as close as any team had to halting the home team’s summer procession.
In a game where no batsman – on either side – managed to pass 40, the Saints had to contend with a tricky wicket and a white-hot Springvale South bowling attack to scrap together a total of 9/166 from its 40 overs.
Number three Luke Byron (35) was the best of the Saints batsmen, while speed king Nick Bole-Brown (3/28) and skipper Craig Slocombe (2/22) did much of the damage with the ball.
In reply, the ladder leader began comfortably under the guidance of Slocombe (25) and Jason Quirk (18), but then lost quick wickets to be 4/68 and under threat.
Young Englishman Jake Needham bowled a mesmerising spell for the Saints, taking 2/6 – including five maidens – in his eight overs.
When all-rounder Danny Law was dismissed for 37, Springvale South had been reduced to a vulnerable 7/138, but Bole-Brown (25 not out) played another valuable lower-order knock to prevent the upset.
Buckley Ridges d North Dandenong
A dominant double act from batsmen Daniel Watson (96) and Shane D’Rozario (80 not out) helped Buckley Ridges make relatively light work of its run chase against North Dandenong at Park Oval.
In pursuit of a competitive target of 210, the pair combined to knock off the bulk of the total before Watson was bowled four runs short of his ton.
But with his partner denied, skipper D’Rozario proceeded to escort his team to a four-wicket win in the 39th over.
Earlier, Carman Mapatuna (103) had rescued North Dandy from a dire score 3/13, absorbing the pressure before opening up to carve out a masterful century.
While none of his partners could capitalise on a start, Maputuna received handy support from Glen Pepper (39) and Shane Leonard (25).
But Mapatuna’s heroics were not enough to stop Buckley Ridges from replacing North Dandy in the top four.
Dandenong West d Coomoora
Having won two of its last three matches to emerge from the Turf One cellar, Coomoora travelled to Dandenong West’s Greaves Reserve in search of a six-point result against the struggling Bulls.
The Roos hopes, though, were swiftly dashed by the home side’s rejuvenated bowling attack.
Shannon Marum (2/19), Glen Scales (2/20) and Matt Meehan (2/19) ripped through the top order to put the Bulls on the canvas at 7/43. Only a gutsy unbeaten 50 from Roos wicketkeeper Roshan Perera could salvage a total of 123 from the wreckage.
Despite a shaky start that saw Dandenong West slump to 3/30, the Bulls were carried on the backs of Anthony Brannan (40 not out) and Adam Mason (28 not out) toward a comfortable six-wicket victory with 11 overs to spare.
Parkfield d Doveton
Parkfield has vaulted into fifth spot on the ladder after cruising past Doveton’s total of 8/145 at Parkfield Reserve on Saturday.
The win was set up by Bears seamer Daniel Ferguson, who took 4/15 from his eight overs to continue a rich vein of form that culminated in a hat-trick in his last outing of 2007.
Opener Brad Downe (41) handled the conditions best for the Doves, but most of his team-mates struggled as Doveton posted 8/145 from its allotted 40 overs.
The Bears batsmen made a better fist of things on their home wicket, with in-form opener Brad Houghton (50 not out) and skipper Dale Harris (51) methodically chasing down their target with seven wickets still in the hutch.
Parkfield is now just three points shy of the top four, while Doveton is languishing at the bottom of the table.
Cranbourne v Keysborough
Cranbourne pocketed its second win of the year by rolling Keysborough by thre wickets at Casey Fields on Saturday.
Keysborough started well enough to move to 3/131 before Steven Miller (3/29) began to have an influence and some quality fielding that resulted in four run outs.
Ultimately, Shiran Rajakaruna’s 39-run dig was Keysborough’s best in its modest 184. The chase was anything but easy, however, with the Eagles slumping to 3/47.
But opener Brad Angus (68 not out) combined with wicketkeeper Steven Hall (39) for a 58-run partnership to get the innings on track.
Hall was dismissed with the score on 105, but despite no further batsman having a great impact, Angus carried his bat to guide his team to victory.
