Eagles rise to the top

Endeavour Hills sit on top of the table after a strong performance. 267269 Picture ROB CAREW

By Lachlan Mitchell

VSDCA

Endeavour Hills has made its way to the top of the ladder in the North/East 1XI Division after it accounted for Balwyn away from home.

A-run-a-ball 95 from star recruit Tillakaratne Dilshan saw the Eagles to a 203 total after 43 overs. Balwyn bowlers Harry Dixon picked up the crucial scalp of Dilshan on his way to four for 33.

Balwyn looked good with the bat but fell 13 runs shy of the total. Dilshan proved his worth with the ball taking 3/22. The Tigers batters made good starts but failed to go on and make a match-winning score and continued to lose key wickets at critical intervals.

A fighting knock from Harman Hundel (32) wasn’t enough to see the home side over the line. Endeavour Hills jump into first place and over take a John Hastings led Kew who suffered a big loss over the weekend.

Premier Women

Dandenong Women suffered a big loss to Box Hill on Sunday.

Box Hill won the toss and elected to bat putting on a 158 first innings knock.

Zoe Griffiths (76) top scored for Box Hill, while Kimberly Garth did her best with the ball taking 3/13 to impact the damage.

Poppy Gardner also showed her class with ball in hand taking 3/30 and dismissing dangerous opener Anna Lanning for one.

The Dandenong batting card wasn’t one that they would look back on fondly with only three players making double figures. Uvindee Wijesena (35) tried her best to get her side over the line but couldn’t find any partners to stick with her along the way.

Dandenong would eventually fall 38 runs short on a forgettable day with the bat.

WDCA

Catani suffered a loss away from home at the hands of Ellinbank. The Blues won the toss and chose to bat making 188 after 40 overs.

A half-century to Liam Adams (55) and a late cameo from Daniel Vela (40) combining to reach the total.

Nicholas Fairbank (54) helped Ellinbank reach their target with four overs to spare. Lauchlan Gregson played his role with the ball taking 4/46 on a tough day for the Blues.

Warragul faced an eager Drouin who was continuing to make its climb into the top four.

The Gulls elected to bat and failed to make an impact on the scoreboard. Harry McConnell making his presence known with 4/31 in a dominant performance with ball in hand.

Drouin made light work of the total, reaching the 125-run target with six overs to spare with seven wickets in hand.

Hallora couldn’t have hoped for a better day when they played Western Park at home.

The day started off on the wrong foot when Brett Williams fell for one.

Fraser Duncan then stepped up to the crease and made a lasting impression, making a run a ball 105.

Hallora made their way to a very strong 252 after their 40 overs. Western Park had far too many allies and not enough soldiers during the chase.

Sanjaya Gangodawila (65) and Sam Batson (72) tried their best to drag Western Park over the line but they fell 27 runs short.

Buln Buln could only manage 198 in their clash against Neerim District. Daniel Sheehan took 2/27 in his commanding performance.

Buln made early inroads making Neerim’s task increasingly more difficult as they fell to 3/48. Dane Fawcett was required to hit a match winning 85 batting at seven to see his side over the line with four balls to spare.