Rain washes cricket away

Berwick opener Jarryd Willis is bowled first ball of the match on Saturday. Pictures: ROB CAREW 176657_02

By Nick Creely

Wild weather across the south-east once again proved the enemy for the local competitions, with the weekend’s cricket once again severely disrupted.
Turf cricket was the hardest hit on Saturday, with no game in the Victorian Premier Cricket competition even getting through half the day’s play before the rain swept through.
Dandenong got off to a strong start in their clash with Ringwood at Shepley Oval, with the Panthers rolling out another debutant, quick bowler Jakeb Thomas (0/11) from Wonthaggi. Experienced Rams openers David King (25) – in game 200 – and Pat Ashton (13) got the visitors off to 41 runs for the first wicket, before young talent Pat Turner (1/18) trapped King in front to get the Panthers on the board.
All-Rounder James Nanopoulos (1/15) wasted little time finding his length, and eventually forced Ashton to snick one behind to Jacques Augustin only a few overs later.
The Rams entered lunch at 3/56 after a late Akshat Buch (1/2) wicket just before the end of the session, but only a few overs were played after the main break as rain pelted down in the area, and the day ended with the visiting team on 4/68 after 36 overs.
Down at Toorak Park, 32 overs were bowled between Prahran and Casey-South Melbourne, with the True Blues finishing on 1/133.
But, as per the Premier Cricket rules of 2017/18, both games will revert into one dayers next week.
In the Dandenong District Cricket Association’s Turf 1 and 2 grades, all games were disrupted due to the weather, with rain coming down in the afternoon.
In Turf 1, four matches got a reasonable start, with the clash between Berwick and Cranbourne drawing out to 51 overs before the rain took over.
In a fascinating beginning to the match, the highly fancied Bears were immediately under the pump from the struggling Eagles. After skipper Lucas Ligt sent Berwick in, Pardeep Boyal (4/29) struck with the first ball of the match, knocking out opening batsman Jarryd Willis’ stumps.
The Bears struggled in the tough batting conditions on an excellent bowling track, crawling their way from 4/39 to 7/123 after Nathan Pilon (42) and Jarrod Armitage (37 not out) salvaged something from the wreckage.
Buckley Ridges reached 0/86 against St Mary’s before play was abandoned, Hallam Kalora Park were cruising at 0/59 against North Dandenong before rain soaked Lois Twohig Reserve, while Mordialloc and Heinz Southern Districts (2/14) didn’t get much play in.
Dandenong West’s clash with Dingley was abandoned last Friday night, while rain leaked through the covers at Alex Nelson Reserve meaning no play was possible between Springvale South and Narre Warren.
All Turf 1 matches will be replayed as one dayers this week, except the match between Berwick and Cranbourne and Buckley Ridges and St Mary’s.