By JARROD POTTER
Dandenong District Cricket Association – round 9 (week one)
What happens when youth fails? You send in the ‘dab hand’.
HALLAM KALORA PARK v SPRINGVALE SOUTH
With a top order collapse, spearheaded by Hallam Kalora Park’s Corrie Wilson (3/108), Springvale South (6/363) captain Craig Slocombe promoted himself to number four – and didn’t that pay off handsomely. Playing most of his cricket down the order before Christmas, Slocombe has moved himself back up to the top of the pops in 2014 and Saturday proved to be his lucky day as he smashed 163 to guide Springvale South’s renaissance against Hallam Kalora Park. Slocombe saw off the early danger posed by Wilson, Callum Prosser (2/64) and handy overs from the youngster Jordan Hammond (0/45) before cashing in once his eye was set. With Ryan Quirk (42) occupying the other end, the pair added 136 for the fourth wicket before Quirk was rolled by Prosser. Slocombe reached his century and continue to smash the bowling attack to all four points of Hallam Reserve – notching his 10th DDCA century when it mattered most this season. 18 fours and four sixes later, Slocombe finally departed, caught and bowled by Wilson after the most entertaining 151-ball innings in the competition this season. The fun didn’t stop there as R. Kellepotha (36), Jackson Sketcher (29 not out) and Tim Ford (42 not out) were given licence to hit approaching stumps as the Bloods drew a whopping 6/363 out of the home side.
BUCKLEY RIDGES v COOMOORA
The Ridges would’ve thought there were easy points on offer against the lowly Coomoora (7/333), but that was before Rahoul Pankhania and Rob Johnston piled it on. The pair stole any initiative Buckley Ridges seized early by smashing a 240-run partnership. Pankhania (163) and Johnston (82) were eventually dismissed by Luke Fletcher (5/82), who claimed his first five-wicket haul this season. Some late fireworks from Johnston and Lance Baptist (26) pushed the tally past 300 on the Park Oval postage stamp which will require some serious batting from the Ridges to avoid a loss.
PARKFIELD v NARRE WARREN
Playing like a Turf 1 team for a change, Narre Warren (0/13) certainly pushed the ladder-leader Parkfield (178), and as a consequence is in a rare match-winning position heading into day two. Steve Spoljaric (34) was at the crease early following a spate of wickets at the top of the order. Kaushalya Weeraratne pecked away at the Bears’ batting attack before a middle order revival helped Parkfield post something tangibly defendable. Travis D’Souza (33) and Samiddha Gallage (40) kept the scoreboard ticking before Matt Aslett (37) chipped in from the tail. Narre Warren is 0/13 at stumps and needs another 166 runs for victory.
LYNDALE v BERWICK
Berwick (0/37) ran through Lyndale (153) like a chainsaw through a birthday cake as the home side had no answers to stop the Bears’ attack. Sporadic resistance came from the top order as Dale Tormey (36) and Jaime Brohier (20) got starts but couldn’t carry on. Their chances of carrying on were exsanguinated by Berwick’s spinners. Captain Jarrod Goodes (4/52) rattled through the order with assistance coming via up-and-coming youngster Tanner Stanton (2/38) to skittle Lyndale. A late fightback from Farazur Rahman (23) and Liam Mara (11 not out) averted complete chaos, but Ryan Crawford (2/18) ensured the last rites would be administered off his pace bowling. Nirmal Wickaramatne (2/34) also impressed with the new nugget and kept things tidy off his 18 overs. In response, the formerly retired Gavan Wills (18 not out) and Darren D’Souza (18 not out) chipped away 37 of the required 153 for first innings points. With a batting attack as deep as Berwick has currently, expect a fast accumulation and perhaps a sneaky declaration by Goodes to catch up some points in the division.
HEINZ SOUTHERN DISTRICTS v NORTH DANDENONG
North Dandenong (98) returned to its previous ways of woe with a drain-circling effort on day one against Heinz Southern Districts (5/118). Nasrat Mulkezada (35) had the only innings of note as Michael Davies (3/20) and Justin Davis (2/22) nipped the new ball around before the icing on the cake was expertly slathered by spin-king Paul Stockdale (4/36). The Northerners achieved moderately better results with ball in hand as it nipped through five Cobras wickets. Despite half their men returning to the shed, Heinz was led strongly via Adam Semmens (67 not out). With first innings points in the bag, off only 28 overs, expect a slap-dash hit fest on Saturday as Heinz aims to leapfrog Lyndale and secure a handy buffer.
DANDENONG WEST v MORDIALLOC
Whalid Ghauri (63) – top marks for batting with grit. Matt Fielding (33) – strong showing to give some support to Ghauri. The rest of Dandenong West’s (126) batting order? The Bulls middle and lower order looked en route to the slaughterhouse as Chathura Athukorala (5/37) continued his domination with the ball. Mordialloc finished up at stumps on 3/37.
