By Nick Creely
THINGS are starting to heat up in the Dandenong District’s top tier, with Berwick being knocked out of the top-four with just five rounds remaining.
It was a tough day in hot conditions, with some sides relishing the heat, while others melted away.
Hallam-Kalora Park remain on top of the ladder, while Cranbourne, Springvale South and Mordialloc breathe down the neck of the Hawks. And the smoky team, who continue to find a way to win, HSD, are continuing to peak at the right team of the season.
SPRINGVALE SOUTH v HEINZ-SOUTHERN DISTRICTS
In one of the most vital matches in the context of the season, the Cobras emerged victorious, in a highly impressive all-round display against the revered Springvale South.
Cobras skipper Matthew Cox elected to bat in the searing heat, and after a sluggish start to the innings, gun all-rounder Michael Davies (93 not out) played a splendid knock that lifted them to an imposing 6/187 off 40 overs.
But the Bloods succumbed to some elite pressure bowling, losing four wickets for not many, as the bowling quartet of Kaushalya Weeraratne (2/13), Michael Davies (2/17), Paul Stockdale (2/19) and Chadwick Van Estrop (3/28) took complete control.
No player was able to cash in with the blade, as the Bloods were eventually bowled out for just 110 off 34 overs.
NARRE WARREN v DINGLEY
The break has done little in reversing the fortunes of Narre Warren, with the Dingoes finally breaking through for a well-deserved victory at Sweeney Reserve.
Winless, and labouring through a disappointing season, the Magpies were sent in to bat, where gun seamer Andrew Dalby broke through in the first over, removing Shane Simpson for a duck, en route to an under-par 117 off 37 overs.
Mitchell Shirt (39) and Janaka Liyanabadalge (35) provided the resistance, but the contributions were limited from the other nine batsmen in the sheds.
Christo Otto (4/27) was the standout, while a host of other Dingoes were impressive with the ball.
And the Dingoes had little trouble chasing down the meagre total, reaching 120 within 21 overs and with five wickets still left in the sheds.
Matthew Hague (44) and Christo Otto (39 not out) put on a clinic, as the Magpies still search for their first victory of the season.
NORTH DANDENONG v PARKFIELD
The Maroons have bounced back from a lacklustre month before Christmas, starting the year with a bang, knocking off a persistent Parkfield unit at home.
Skipper Jurgen Andersen elected to bat, and with some aggression and chancy batting, were able to make a highly competitive 186 off 39 overs, but were bowled out in the process.
Nasrat Malikzada (55) found some touch with a half-century, while a host of other contributions from the middle-order saw the total lift.
And with the bat, the Bears gave them an almighty scare, going from 6/61 to almost pinching a remarkable victory.
But the class of Jurgen Andersen (4/36) shone through, as he took the last two wickets of the match to keep his side’s faint finals hopes alive.
MORDIALLOC v BUCKLEY RIDGES
Another epic innings from Ian Daniel has seen the Bloodhounds dismantle the highly fancied Buckley Ridges, and in the process, have edged its way into the top four.
The star all-rounder backed up his brutal century just before Christmas with a brilliant 85 in hot conditions, as the Bloodhounds posted 7/182 off their 40 overs.
Consistent contributor Damith Mapa Ralalage (46 not out) combined with Daniel after wickets tumbled in the early part of the innings.
In response, the Bucks just couldn’t find their groove, with Nick Connellan (4/24) and champion seamer Stuart Squires (3/29) dismantling them with pressure.
The Bucks fell 82 runs short of victory, and face a struggle to break into the finals this season.
DANDENONG WEST v HALLAM-KALORA PARK
Ladder leaders Hallam-Kalora Park have shown no mercy, annihilating a competitive Bulls line-up to the tune of eight wickets at Greaves Reserve.
Winning the toss and batting, the Bulls could only muster up 8/118 off 40 overs, with skipper Steven Gilmour (3/36) the pick of the bowlers.
But it could have been much worse, after the Bulls were at one stage 5/41 and 7/81, before Peter Lindsay (40 not out) gave the bowlers some hope.
And the Hawks wasted little time in knocking down the total, with Leigh Booth (83) playing a virtual lone hand, as they took the points in the space of 22 overs.
CRANBOURNE v BERWICK
It was destined to be the game of the round for a reason, and the epic finish that unfolded at Casey Fields could have serious ramifications at the end of the season.
With both teams sitting inside the four coming into the round, and facing off against their next door neighbours, the tensions were high in the searing sun.
And Eagles skipper Steven Spoljaric did not hesitate to bat first and make the Bears chase them.
But batting was difficult, and the Eagles scraped away, somehow managing 135 off 39.1 overs.
Matthew Chasemore (47) was almost a lone hand, with perennial run-scorer Spoljaric (19) falling right as he was looking dangerous.
Bears skipper Jarrod Goodes (4/18) continued his stellar season, and picked up the crucial wicket of Chasemore at a vital part of the innings.
With the pressure on, the Bears started in solid fashion, putting on 56 for the first wicket, before a mini collapse in the middle-order saw them sitting at an uncomfortable 6/110, still 26 runs short of victory.
And in the first ball of the very last over of the match, and with just six to win and one wicket in hand, Jack Phillips was run-out in stunning fashion for a duck, and in the process, dented their top-four hopes.
Round 7 Fixture
Springvale South v Berwick, Alex Nelson Reserve
Narre Warren v Buckley Ridges, Sweeney Reserve
North Dandenong v Heinz-Southern Districts, Lois Twohig
Mordialloc v Hallam-Kalora Park, Ben Kavanagh Reserve
Dandenong West v Dingley, Greaves Reserve
Cranbourne v Parkfield, Casey Fields
Rolling Turf 1 Team of the Year
Ian Daniel (Mordialloc)
Matthew Hague (Dingley)
Manisha Dabarera (Parkfield)
Janaka Liyanabadalge (Narre Warren)
Steven Spoljaric (Cranbourne)
Jarrod Armitage (Berwick)
Matthew Chasemore (Cranbourne)
Brodie Yapp (keeper, HSD)
Peter Atkinson (Dandenong West)
Jarrod Goodes (Berwick)
Stuart Squires (Mordialloc)
