Parkfield’s Brad Houghton trudges off after being run out by Berwick’s Jim Davies. 41364 BRAD Francis continued his pre-Christmas form in Turf One by belting 60 to lead Berwick to a one-day win over Parkfield at Parkfield Reserve.
Francis, who is averaging over 50 for the season, teamed up with captain Paul Evans (41) to lay the groundwork for the winning score of 168.
Earlier, Parkfield’s Ryan Pitts (52) combined with Brad Houghton (20) for an opening 50-run stand but tight fielding forced the runout of both batters.
On the back of the two runouts, Cameron McDonnell (2/23) put Parkfield on the back foot with two quick wickets.
Their eventual total of 5/167 off 40 overs was a modest total but given the wickets in hand, the final score should have been greater.
Berwick, in response, stumbled early to 2/29, but Francis and Evans took the total to 94 before Evans was dismissed.
Still needing 73 runs, Francis held his wicket as his team-mates came and went and by the time he was run out, the tail was able to scrape the necessary 15 runs for victory with one over to spare.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:TURF TWO
Berwick has lost its sixth straight game, this time going down to Cranbourne by eight wickets at Arch Brown Reserve.
Berwick’s batting line-up was again whittled away without much of a yelp, this time making 8/114, their second lowest total of the season.
Brad James (35 not out) retained some dignity in an innings that had been torn apart by Robert Cleland (3/16) and Ross Woodall (2/20).
Berwick never had much of a chance defending the total and their hopes were completely dashed when the first Cranbourne wicket finally fell with Berwick holding onto a slight 33-run lead.
Michael Dalzotto (2/27) chipped in with the ball but he was never going to make much of a difference as Cranbourne cruised to 116 with 10 overs and eight wickets in hand.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:A GRADE
An even input by the Berwick bowlers was the catalyst to a six-wicket victory over Fountain Gate at Max Pawsey Reserve.
With four of the six Berwick bowlers taking two wickets each, and no bowler giving away more than 31 runs, Fountain Gate was never able to break free from the tight bowling.
In reply, Andrew Mazzagatti (44) and Ryan Williamson (53 not out) both made strong individual scores to provide backing to the innings.
Berwick eventually rolled to a six-wicket victory with seven overs in reserve.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:B GRADE
Forget about the massive total of 5/258, the destructive 137 by in-form batter Geoff Wilcock was alone more than enough to beat Cranbourne’s combined tally of 112 at Berwick Primary School.
Wilcock, who is averaging over 60 for the summer, teamed up with Tim Renwick (78) to produce a 181 run second wicket stand.
Effective bowling by Stephen Tolley (4/9) and Dean Holden (3/29) had Cranbourne reeling at 7/39 and eventually bowled out for 112.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:E GRADE
The Berwick bowlers dominated the day at Greaves Reserve as they bowled Dandenong West out for 118, 36 runs short of Berwick’s total.
Craig Belleville (45) again hit a convincing score to take Berwick to 6/154 after the maximum overs.
But it was the Berwick bowlers who ripped through the heart of the Dandenong West bowlers, restricting only two batters to double figures.
Ray Henry (3/12) and Andrew Young (3/12) together helped dismiss the remaining six wickets for 35 runs.
