By JARROD POTTER
CRANBOURNE’S big-ticket recruit sung for his supper emphatically as newly appointed skipper Steve Spoljaric (94) starred in the Eagles’ 80-run win over Dandenong West.
After raising the DDCA Turf 2 flag from last season and presenting Turf 1 caps to the players, Cranbourne started horrendously as the Eagles fell to 4/32.
Carelessness cost Jordan Cleland (2), Lucas Ligt (3), Cameron George (3) and Ben Maroney (0) their scalps as Dandenong West stormed through the top order.
The revival came from Spoljaric and another big signing for the Eagles in years gone by as Te Ahu Davis (64) went the tonk as he walloped his first Turf 1 half-ton. The duo notched 126 runs together and was only dismissed at 5/158 as Jamie Brown (2/38) earned Davis’ wicket. Another collapse would leave Cranbourne in tough waters, but Spoljaric remained to keep the Eagles soaring.
Jake Harrington (0) didn’t have a Turf 1 debut worth remembering, but Spoljaric remained as he batted with all comers to post a strong tally for the Bulls to chase.
Spoljaric would hang on til the final few overs before giving up a catch off Kieran Rodgers (2/39) – falling six runs short of his 10th Turf-1 ton – but by then Cranbourne had escaped danger and turned the tables on the Bulls.
Dandenong West had no answers for Cranbourne’s bowling as the only innings of note came from Anthony Brannan (29) in the middle order. Martin Kelly (4/16) and Davis (3/17) carved up the Bulls and left no remains as Cranbourne stormed home for its first win in its Turf 1 resumption.
The Bulls next face Heinz Southern Districts at Reedy Reserve for a two-dayer.
Mordialloc (9/164) continued the form that booked it a semi-final spot last season as the Bloodhounds rolled Heinz Southern Districts (8/152), despite the best efforts of Matt Cox (74), who smashed his first half-century of the season.
Berwick (137) succumbed to Lyndale (7/138) in the other one-dayer as Dan Brown (42) and Dushan Wickramarathna (3/27) stood tallest.
North Dandenong (2/219) had the batting firepower to overcome a strong tally from Hallam Kalora Park (9/214cc) as Nasrat Mulkezada (85 not out) and Craig Gunawardana (63) pushed the tally along. Jurgen Andersen (22 not out) batted up the order and flourished to guide the Norths home after overcoming an injury that limited him to 3.3 overs last week.
DDCA TURF 1 FIXTURE
Heinz Southern Districts v Cranbourne
Buckley Ridges v Berwick
Hallam Kalora Park v Springvale South
