Buckley Ridges’ Wes Nicholas took 4/69 in his side’s loss to Doveton on Saturday. 26676 Picture: Luke PlummerBy Stuart Teather
SPRINGVALE South has secured top spot in the Dandenong District Cricket Association’s Turf 1 competition with a commanding win over Narre Warren on Saturday.
North Dandenong also looks on track to play finals after a close win over reigning premier Berwick.
@BT Sub Sport News:Doveton v Buckley Ridges
Doveton backed up its strong day-one bowling performance with an impressive innings with the bat on Saturday, scoring 245 to sink Buckley Ridges at Robinson Reserve.
Captain Bradley Downe provided the start his side needed, scoring 70 at the top of the order to see his side to victory.
Nathan Wilson (50) and Ryan Pearson (34) also had solid knocks, while for the bowlers Westley Nicholas stood tall with figures of 4/69 off 21 overs.
With two games to go, Doveton is fifth, one game out of the top four, while Buckley Ridges is a further half-a-game behind in sixth.
@BT Sub Sport News:Coomoora v Keysborough
Coomoora’s big day-one score of 299 proved to be too much for Keysborough to chase down at Coomoora Reserve, and the visitors crumbled with the bat, almost losing outright.
Keysborough managed 130 in the first innings, with Jonathan Mohamed (38) and Varon Pradeep (26) leading the way, in the face of some impressive bowling from Justin Woodman (5/41 off 13).
With 36 overs still left in the day, Coomoora enforced the follow-on in the hope of an outright win, and the home side seemed on track to take the points.
In the end it came down to number nine Andrew Chapman and number 11 David Thomson to hold on to the final wicket as Coomoora’s bowlers pushed for the win.
The pair did the job, and Keysborough finished up on 9/127.
@BT Sub Sport News:Narre Warren v Springvale South
After taking first innings points on day one, Springvale South used the second part of its clash with Narre Warren as batting practice.
Openers Steven Masterson (114 not out) and Rory Ingram (142) put on a master-class at the crease, and when Ingram fell Lance MacDougall (56) stepped in and continued the rout.
The win has all but secured Springvale South top spot on the ladder, with the team 12 points clear of second-placed Hallam-Kalora Park with two games to go.
@BT Sub Sport News:St Mary’s v Parkfield
Despite an unbeaten 61 from number nine Shane Bell, Parkfield could not chase down St Mary’s 239 at Carroll Reserve on Saturday.
After the top order struggled with the bat, it came down to Bell and regular contributor Hemantha Alles (46) to save Parkfield’s innings, and the pair put on 69 for the eighth wicket but could not get the side over the line, and Parkfield was all out for 208.
For St Mary’s, Andrew Haining did the job with the ball, picking up his first five-wicket haul for the season, with 5/35 off 15.
@BT Sub Sport News:Berwick v North Dandenong
Berwick slipped further on Saturday after going down to North Dandenong at Arch Brown Reserve.
Frustratingly for Berwick, it was another close finish and the side fell just two runs short of victory. Chasing 207, Alecs Roberts got the runs ticking over with 52 at the top of the order, but he had little support throughout the innings.
It came down to the tail-enders to perform with the bat, and they did, with James Prendergast (38) and Adam Watson (20) leading the way.
But it was not enough, and the final wicket fell with Berwick just shy of the total at 205, resigning the side to its sixth loss of the season.
The win keeps North Dandenong in the four and on track for finals, while Berwick drops to 10th.
