By JARROD POTTER
THE early heavy-lifting wasn’t repaid as the Bulls (131) were slaughtered by Bayswater.
Chasing an imposing 238 on an overcast day, Noble Park set about making small inroads – the captain Dave Edmunds (51) and Chanaka Gunawardana (19) gutsed out a 44-run opening stand before Gunawardana fell to Tim Sugumar (2/19).
From there starts weren’t cashed into match-winning innings – Marasinghe Perera (14), Mevan Fernando (17) and Jake Richardson (16) all got their eye in but failed to stay in for the long haul.
The loss of middle order spelled the end of any realistic chasing prospects – a devastating 5/9 Bayswater spell forced Edmunds, Fernando, Luke Anthony (0), Johan Vorster (0) and Dylan Vandergert (0) from the crease in quick succession.
Rizan Mawzoon (9) postponed the inevitable, but eventually the Bulls were dismissed for 131 from only 55.5 overs. Bryce Galvin (3/32) and Daniel Carr (2/25) were the other Bayswater bowlers to cash in against Noble Park.
The loss pushes Noble Park out of the top-six in the VSDCA’s East/West first XI competition and the Bulls will look to bounce back this week away at Box Hill for a one-dayer.
