By JARROD POTTER
VSDCA – ROUND 10 (Day 2)
KEEPING finals dreams alive with a percentage-boosting triumph, Noble Park (5/284) put in an all-round effort to roll Endeavour Hills (124 and 1/52).
After belting nearly 300 last week, via half-centuries from Sanjeewa De Silva (72), Mevan Fernando (64no) and Jake Richardson (65), Noble Park completed the picture to sear through the visitors’ first innings before having a late crack at an outright.
Bits and bobs made the entirety of the Eagles’ batting initiative as Ben Law (21) tried to hold together the top order.
The rout began in earnest after Sacheen Paramesh (2/29) claimed opener Dayle Olson (9), triggering an almighty collapse.
The Eagles lost 5/21 as Issy Perera (5/46) spun his way into the match alongside powerful seamer Rizan Mawzoon (2/16). The Bulls’ charge left few Eagles unplucked as the runs dried up but the wickets flowed freely.
Perennial all-rounder Richard Saniga (35no) held up his end of the bargain as per usual – smashing a few runs late to chew up the overs and in part prevent any outright shenanigans.
Sending the visitors back in, the quick second innings scalp of Zach Allen (0) gave the Bulls’ a glimmer of outright hope, but in the end would shake hands after 16 overs as Law (32no) and Olson (18no) saw out the final hour.
Noble Park skipper Luke Wintle thought the side’s recent form – taking four wins on the trot – has been the true reflection of his side’s potential and not the slump through the middle of the VSDCA North/East season.
“We’ve got to keep winning to stay alive – we’re still out of the six so every week is really important to us,” Wintle said. “We didn’t play well enough early – didn’t have enough runs and our bowling wasn’t as consistent as we’d hoped, so certainly the last five matches we’ve been much happier with how we’re performing.”
With bowling options up and down the order, Wintle was thrilled to see everyone get among the wickets in a deservingly emphatic win.
“The boys bowled pretty well in areas,” Wintle said. “The wicket was a pretty good one considering all the rain we’ve had this week, so for the quicks to bowl well early and for Issy (Marasinghe Perera) to spin them out and get five-for was a great effort.”
The win brings the Bulls within three points of the top six and Noble Park’s must-win sprint to the end of the season continues against Brunswick at home in a one-dayer. Endeavour Hills sits 13th and will head to Plenty Valley on Saturday.
DDCA TURF 1 – ROUND 9
The only Turf 1 match to get under way saw Dandenong West (167) post a solid target, especially considering the horrendous conditions that have bucketed Greaves Reserve in the last week. The Hawks sunk their talons into the Bulls’ top order as only Sam Bracey (58) stood tall. His resilient knock was supported down the line by Shaun Weir (46) and Peter Atkinson (25no). For the visitors, Will Whyte (3/25) and Jordan Hammond (2/34) troubled the hosts the most. Hallam Kalora Park (0/6) saw off the last handful of overs and remains well placed heading into day-two. The remaining Turf 1 clashes have been rescheduled as one-dayers.
VICTORIAN PREMIER CRICKET – ROUND 15
It will be tough work defending a meagre target, but Dandenong (157) has no option with a loss against Melbourne Uni (0/27) likely ending its chances of making the Premier finals. After tons of rain lashed Melbourne this week, it was no surprise the hosts sent Dandenong in to bat. A textbook strong-start via skipper Tom Donnell (30) and Brett Forsyth (15) was hacked apart quickly by the Melbourne Uni attack. Led by James Bett (5/34) and Steven Reid (4/35), the scholars put Dandenong into trouble fast as the Panthers lost the first five scalps for a scant 58. The resistance was led by James Nanopoulos (38) and David Alleyne (24), but their wickets joined the procession soon after as the side lurched just past 150 on a tricky-day at the crease.
