By JARROD POTTER
VSDCA South East 1st XI – Round 12 (day 1)
ANOTHER day, another half-century for Marasinghe Perera (57) as Noble Park (193) threw down the gauntlet to Box Hill for the right to get back into finals’ contention.
A strong start from Mevan Fernando (33) and Jake Richardson (25) set the platform for the Bulls – as the reigning premiers try desperately to scrape their way back into the VSDCA’s top six.
With their one, two and three back in the sheds at 3/71, the onus once again fell to Perera – who relished the chance to punish yet another bowling attack.
Perera saw off the best of the Mustangs’ brigade – and sadly most of his batting compatriots which succumbed to said attack – but the Sri Lankan all-rounder stayed the course to notch his fifth 50 this year as he went past 600 runs.
With 615 runs and 22 wickets already this season, Perera is one of the odds-on favourites for the Val Holten Medal.
With good lower-order help from spearhead all-rounder Rizan Mawzoon (34 not out) – Noble Park set the challenge to Box Hill for a double-century chase.
A win would likely push Noble Park into the six – at the expense of either Endeavour Hills or Bayswater – with only one home and away match to go.
ENDEAVOUR HILLS v MOUNT WAVERLEY
A TOUGHER day out at Mt Waverley (208) greeted Endeavour Hills (0/22), but the visitors were able to make in-roads on the back of a superhuman performance from Shane Peake (7/83).
Peake took his best figures in a mammoth 33.5 over marathon as the heat made the quicks ineffective.
Needing a win to stay out of harm’s way in the race for finals, Endeavour Hills openers Zach Allen (12 not out) and Thomas Hafil (6 not out) will resume next week needing the best part of 200 more for first innings’ victory.
