By JARROD POTTER
VSDCA South East 1st XI – Round 9 (day 1)
NOBLE PARK v ELSTERNWICK
EARLY carnage was amended by Rob Johnston as Noble Park (194) continues to post strong tallies, but it was not enough to hold off Elsternwick (7/195) climb up the VSDCA South-East ladder,
Jake Richardson (36) had to watch on as his partners at the other end succumbed rapidly. Val Holten Medal contender Issy Perera (19) wasn’t able to add much to the tally as it fell to Johnston (69 not out) to get the job done.
After switching from Coomoora mid-season, Johnston showed his spot in the Bulls line-up was warranted as he etched out a steadfast 157-ball half-ton to keep the Noble Park scoreboard ticking over.
His contributions guided the tail as Rizan Mawzoon (20) and Jaye Edmunds (24) held on to give Johnston enough support at the non-striker’s end.
The response was held together by Elsternwick captain Cameron Christiansen (103no). Coming in at 1/0 after an early run-out, the captain worked his side to victory as Noble Park could not rouse the crucial wicket, despite the best efforts of Ash Perera (2/38) and Rizan Mawzoon (1/43). The tandem bowled 43 overs between them, but Christiansen would not be budged and hit the winning three runs in the final over to take a nailbiting win off the second last cherry.
Noble Park drops back out of the top six with the loss and faces Oakleigh at home in a two-dayer starting on Saturday.
ENDEAVOUR HILLS v BRIGHTON
ENDEAVOUR Hills (193) virtually matched the Bulls to set a headache-induced chase for Brighton (180).
Starts through the top and middle order pushed through a sizeable tally, but no one managed to convert their 20-30 into a big score to really tip the match in the Eagles’ favour.
Justin Merlino (48) fared best for the home side, as he carried on the strong start from Thomas Hafil (34) and Dayle Olson (28). Brighton started to shine as wickets fell in clumps at the hands of James Harrod (4/35) and a superb 27-over spell from Jack Rutter (4/92).
Richard Saniga (30 not out) shored up the lower order as the veteran all-rounder resisted a quick exit from the home field.
The chase was hampered from the get-go as Endeavour Hills claimed regular wickets against the Brighton order. Despite scoring its runs quickly – facing 59 overs for its 180 – the wicket column proved the difference maker for Brighton as Endeavour Hills dictated the tempo. Not even the omission of captain Chris Periera could stop the Eagles’ bowling attack as Vaughan Baxter (3/38), Saniga (3/41) and Daniel Wiles (2/18) chipped away at the visitors wicket-by-wicket. A 21-run last wicket partnership between Neil Bezuidenhout (21no) and Harrod (18) threatened to steal the victory, but Shane Peake (2/56) delivered the finishing blow to push the Eagles back into the top six.
The victory grants Endeavour Hills fifth spot on the VSDCA South East ladder and will host Malvern in a round 10 two-day match.
