Above: James Byrnes (64) was left to defend by himself as North Dandenong was bowled out for 144, 57 short of Doveton’s total. 60563 Picture: Donna Oates
By Gavin Staindl
THE race to qualify for the Dandenong and District Cricket Association finals has become much clearer following the last of the two-dayers.
With the final round starting this Saturday, the make up of the final four appears confirmed.
In Turf One, Buckley Ridges has cemented top spot while Springvale South and Parkfield are also safe in the top four.
Berwick sits fourth, a game in front of Doveton, and only needs to beat Keysborough to secure a finals berth.
TURF ONE
@BT Sub Sport News:DOVETON v NORTH DANDENONG
Doveton remains in contention for the finals by a whisker after it beat North Dandenong by 57 runs at Robinson Reserve.
Doveton still needs to beat Dandenong West this week and rely on Keysborough upsetting Berwick to qualify for finals.
North Dandenong’s James Byrnes (65) dug deep, but he was only one of three batters to reach double figures as the visitors were bowled out for 144.
@BT Sub Sport News:KEYSBOROUGH v BUCKLEY RIDGES
Buckley has sealed top spot after beating Keysborough outright at Keysborough Reserve. Notching up 308 in the first innings, Buckley then claimed 20 wickets last Saturday as Keysborough could only muster 181 runs from its two innings.
Ridges’ spearhead Luke Fletcher finished with a 10-wicket haul, claiming five wickets in each innings.
@BT Sub Sport News:ST MARY’S v NARRE WARREN
Narre Warren has removed itself from the bottom of the ladder with a 75-run win over St Mary’s at Carroll Reserve.
In danger of being relegated to Turf Two, Narre Warren posted 193 on the first day before knocking off St Mary’s for 118 in 71 overs.
Narre Warren’s Dwayne Scott (4/16) took his best figures since October 2007 to give the Magpies a three-point buffer over Keysborough in last place.
@BT Sub Sport News:SPRINGVALE SOUTH v BERWICK
After claiming first innings points last week, Springvale South had an outright victory in its sight, before a solid 40 overs by Berwick at Alex Nelson Reserve let the idea fall by the wayside.
Trailing by 74 runs heading into its second innings, Berwick looked like a different side to the one that was bowled out for 55 the week before and strolled to 3/76 at tea – when both captains agreed to call stumps after 40 overs.
@BT Sub Sport News:HALLAM-KALORA PARK v DANDENONG WEST
It was a short two weeks for Hallam-Kalora Park and Dandenong West.
After the first day was called off restricting Saturday to a one-dayer, Dandenong West wasted no time in dismissing Hallam for 61 – before passing the target inside 20 overs at Hallam Recreation Reserve. Dandenong West’s Peter Atkinson took four wickets for 12 runs as his side completed the seven-wicket victory within half a day.
@BT Sub Sport News:PARKFIELD v MORDIALLOC
It required a speedy second innings from the home side, but in the end, Parkfield recorded a comfortable outright victory over Mordialloc at Parkfield Reserve. At the completion of the first innings, Mordialloc trailed by 97 – but redeemed itself by notching up 171 in the second dig, a lead of 74 runs. With approximately 25 overs remaining, Parkfield’s Beau Dowler (48) and Brad Baptist (25) combined for an unbeaten 62-run partnership as Parkfield secured the outright win with nine wickets remaining.
