By Paul Pickering and Marc McGowan
FIVE teams remain undefeated after the opening two rounds of the Dandenong District Cricket Association.
Narre Warren, Hallam-Kalora Park, North Dandenong, Springvale South and Buckley Ridges head the ladder alongside defending champion Berwick, which earned its first win on Saturday.
But Cranbourne, Doveton, St Mary’s, Keysborough and Coomoora are yet to pick up a point.
Buckley Ridges d Coomoora
Buckley Ridges resumed at 2/39 in pursuit of Coomoora’s modest total of 204, but skipper Will Buttler (84) wasted no time stamping his imprint on the match at Park Oval on Saturday.
The South African-born all-rounder received more than handy support from Simon Fonseca (75) and Ruwan Jayadeva (33), as Ridges eased past the target and on to 8/227.
The Roos called upon eight bowlers in a bid to stem the flow of runs, but only Dave Nutting (2/49) and Mevan Fernando (2/83) had repeated success.
The win allowed Buckley Ridges to consolidate its first-round upset of Berwick and a spot in the top four.
Hallam-Kalora Park d St Mary’s
Everything had to go right for St Mary’s to chase down Hallam-Kalora Park’s imposing total of 5/388 at Alex Nelson Reserve on Sunday. So the loss of veteran opener Troy Cashman (0) was not the start the Saints were looking for.
But Cashman’s dismissal brought Daniel Davis to the crease, and, when he eventually left with 86 runs – and 17 boundaries – to his name, St Mary’s were in with a chance at 3/120.
Solid knocks from Nick McKay (55), Mark Schonewille (45) and Paul Sharp (43) ushered the Saints past the 300 mark, but the chase fell short at 9/314 from the allotted 80 overs.
Lee Brown was the best of the Hallam-Kalora Park bowlers with 3/80.
Narre Warren d Parkfield
Narre Warren maintained its unbeaten start to the season on Saturday,, despite some rearguard action from Parkfield’s lower order at Parkfield Reserve.
The Magpie bowlers restricted Parkfield to 6/76 after Narre Warren made 281 the previous weekend.
Bears captain Dale Harris (27) and AFL footballer Beau Dowler (69) finally offered some resistance, but when last Saturday’s batting hero Ryan Christie dismissed the former, the hosts were 7/110.
Shane Doig (60) replaced Harris and proved more than capable with the willow, combining with Dowler to take the score to 198.
But Dowler was next to go on that total, and while Doig fought on manfully there was little left for Parkfield, and it eventually fell 50 runs short.
Dale Christie (3/47) topped the bowling figures for Magpies.
Berwick d Keysborough
Berwick hit back emphatically from its shock round-one loss to post a 185-run victory over Keysborough at Keysborough Reserve on the weekend.
Bears captain-coach Will Carr (3/8) led a devastating bowling performance that dismissed the Burra for 129 – the same score as Berwick opener Brad Francis. Keysborough skipper Paul McDonald (30) top-scored for his side after taking 4/90 the previous Saturday as the Bears amassed 7/314.
Only three other Burra batsmen reached double figures, with James Prendergast (2/20) and Simon Cornell (2/21) joining Carr as the chief destroyers.
Berwick raced to 1/45 in its second innings. Alex Roberts was run out for a duck to continue his indifferent start to the year.
North Dandenong d Doveton
Half centuries to Shane Clark (76) and Carmen Mapatuna (56) on day one gave North Dandenong a healthy total of 271 to defend against Doveton at Robinson Reserve on Sunday, and their bowlers didn’t disappoint. Skipper Adrian Baltruschaitis (3/36) and Chris Clarke (3/44) took care of the top-order, reducing the Doves to 5/89 before number seven Nathan Wilson (46) launched a rearguard action.
Doveton gloveman Robert Turner (28 not out) ran out of partners when his team was eventually dismissed for 196.
Springvale South d Cranbourne
Springvale South backed up its strong batting performance with an equally impressive display with the ball to ease past Cranbourne at Alex Nelson Reserve on Saturday.
Bloods captain-coach Craig Slocombe’s 100 paced his team’s 310 on day one, but it was Andrew Sharp (4/41) and evergreen quick Nick Bole-Brown (3/51) who did the brunt of the damage on resumption.
Michael Davies (2/14) was also instrumental in bowling out the Eagles for 209.
Opener Brett Harrop (43) stood tall for Cranbourne, but, other than Rodger Alister (40) and Daniel Hunt (33), there was little else for the Eagles.
