By Nick Creely
DDCA TURF 1
REVIEW – ROUND 11
It was a round of upsets in the Dandenong District’s Turf 1 grade on Saturday, with both St Mary’s and North Dandenong stunning likely finalists in a fascinating weekend of cricket.
Emotions were high down at Alex Nelson Reserve with Springvale South celebrating club and association legend Craig Slocombe’s 300th occasion, but the Saints lifted to another level to stun the Bloods.
Batting first, the home side were rolled for 144, with Ryan Quirk (49) the only Blood to find some form with the blade, while with the ball, Ashan Anthony (3/31) picked up vital wickets through the middle to be a menace.
The Bloods got off to a strong start in its defence of 144, with seamer Tim Ford (2/20) picking up where he left off last week with two early scalps, but slowly but surely the visitors found its groove, and pushed hard for the win.
Skipper Rob Peat (42) lead the charge as the Saints pushed home, with the visitors finding the runs with one over and four wickets to spare.
The loss – the club’s first since the opening round of the season – however, does not move the Bloods from top spot.
Park Oval, like it usually does, saw plenty of runs in a top-four blockbuster between Buckley Ridges and Berwick, but the Bears – off the back of two seasoned champions – inflicted the reigning champs with its second consecutive loss.
The Bears were merciless with the bat after being sent in by Bucks skipper David White, racking up an incredible 5/290 off its 40 overs, with Matt Chasemore (91) anchoring the innings superbly like he usually does.
With Chasemore set, fellow champ Nathan Pilon – coming out of retirement for the match after an injury to gun keeper Jordan Cleland – blasted one of the more incredible knocks seen for years, whacking 10 sixes on his way to 93 not out off 31 deliveries, plundering 26 runs from the final over alone.
But with a scary batting outfit, the Bucks were well placed to run the total down.
However, a devastating new ball spell from seamer Brendan Rose (4/19) tore the Bucks’ top-order apart, with skipper David White falling early and the home side falling to 3/4.
Despite a 41-ball 81 from Bucks champ Daniel ‘DJ’ Watson, the Bucks fells short, bowled out for 223 in the 34th over, with Cory Bevan (4/56) also outstanding.
The win from the visitors keeps them in touch with top-spot, continuing an outstanding run of form from Chasemore’s side after Christmas.
Down at Reedy Reserve, a whirlwind century from Chandima Abeykoon guided Heinz Southern Districts to a thrilling win against Hallam Kalora Park.
The Cobras were in deep trouble after winning the toss and batting, sitting 5/29 when Abeykoon came together with skipper Kaushayla Weeraratne.
The pair knocked up a 136-run stand in which Weeraratne (48) fell just shy of a half-century, but Abeykoon continued on his merry way, belting four sixes on his way to 101, before being run-out in the closing stages of the innings.
Abeykoon’s splendid century lifted the home side to a competitive 7/197, with Chris Pereira (4/32) the pick of the bowlers for the Hawks.
The Hawks looked to be cruising with Leigh Booth (43) and Ryan Hillard (32) notching up 71 for the first wicket, but the home side worked its way back through a steady stream of wickets to leave the visitors 5/128.
Despite the Hawks’ desperate attempt to wrestle back control, the Cobras held the home side to 9/171, with Udara Hettige (5/23) absolutely stellar with the ball once again.
And in the final game of the round, North Dandenong pulled off one of the upsets of the season against fourth-placed Narre South.
The previously winless Maroons have had a tough time of it this season and sit bottom of the Turf 1 table, but gave its supporters and players something to smile about with an outstanding team effort.
The Lions lacked its usual fluency with the bat to be rolled out for 171, with seamer Nimesh Kariyawasam (3/36) once again prominent with the ball.
The Maroons lost an early wicket in the chase, but it mattered little, with skipper Austin Heldt (53) and the talented Clay McCartney (72 off 48 balls) inflicting the Lions to another tough loss, one that leaves them vulnerable inside the top-four with only a handful of rounds left to play.
Round 12 shapes as another intriguing round as two-day cricket finally makes its return. Buckley Ridges will need to bounce back into its best form when they welcome Springvale South to Park Oval, St Mary’s will fancy its chances of another upset against Narre South, North Dandenong and Heinz Southern Districts will battle it out at Lois Twohig Reserve, while Hallam Kalora Park will need to bank a win for its finals hopes against Berwick.
