By JARROD POTTER
DDCA review – round 1 (day one)
HALLAM Kalora Park (9/214cc) managed to buck off a problematic start to set a significant tally for North Dandenong to chase.
The Hawks suffered early on as North Dandenong ran through the head of the order. The Hilliards – Ben (4) and Ryan (5) succumbed alongside Rhys Serpanchy (1) and Cory Booth (1) to leave the Hawks in dire trouble at 4/13. The rescue was ignited in typical Hallam Kalora Park fashion by Lee Booth (58). Booth guided the renaissance alongside youngster Robert Parker (59) to add 77 for the fifth scalp. Booth’s 17th 50-or-greater score in the DDCA Turf competitions stabilised the visitors’ collapse and allowed for Parker to carry on after the worst damage was caused. Parker battled on once Booth was sent back to the Lois Twohig Reserve sheds, finding a rock-solid partner in Jagveer Hayer (39). Parker raised the bat for his first Turf 1 half-ton before falling soon after while Hayer carried on to push the tally to 9/214 at stumps.
Brushing off a top-order collapse, Springvale South (8/279cc) pushed through to set a troubling tally for Buckley Ridges to chase.
The Ridges – still smarting after their ejection from last year’s finals’ series – came out breathing fire. The Bloods struggled to stay at the crease as Lukas Hoogenboom (1/31), and recently returned Premier cricketer Hussain Ali (1/37) made the early going difficult at Harold Road.
Buckley Ridges’ man-mountain Dan Haasbroek (3/44) took a pair of decisive wickets to leave Springvale South 4/25. It brought captain Craig Slocombe (99) to the crease alongside dour top-order batsman Steve Masterson (51). Seeing off the rampaging quicks, Slocombe and Masterson were able to cash in when the spinners arrived to get the Bloods off the drip. Slocombe took particular pleasure belting Matt Goodwright (0/47) over his head and into local front gardens as he belted nine boundaries and six sixes to rocket along to 99 before he was undone by Wes Nicholas (2/76). It would have been Slocombe’s third century in five innings had he not been held on by Jayson Hobbs to halt him one short.
With the Masterson-Slocombe stand accruing 133, it was a case of swapping one belter for another as Jarryd Armitage (70) strolled to the crease with one thing in mind. Armitage flogged five each of fours and sixes to keep the headache up for Buckley Ridges. Adding 65 for the sixth wicket, after Masterson departed following a gutsy 192-ball innings, Armitage continued his walloping with Andrew Sharp (22) also getting among the boundaries. The Ridges will need 280 for victory next week.
Those who signed off Parkfield (227) might want to look at the scorecard as the Bears proved there’s plenty of muscle left in the reigning premiers. The gulf between last season’s first and 11th teams was on display at Coomoora Road. Matt Aslett (61) and David Ford (50 not out) mustered the mightiest efforts to push the total into the double-century region while Travis D’Souza (21) and the “will-he, won’t he retire” Tony Payne (31) smashing out crucial digs. Featuring a new-look bowling attack, The Kangaroos had serviceable efforts from Chris Konings (2/15), Jessie Smyth and captain Rob Johnston (2/78).
Play was cancelled in two fixtures as Arch Brown Reserve and Casey Fields were not ready for play ahead of the season opener. Cranbourne/Dandenong West and Berwick/Lyndale clashes will be played as one-dayers next week.
TURF 2
Darren Pattinson (125) starred in his return to Doveton (217) as the former English Test cricketer held together the Doves under serious pressure from the Southern Pirates (0/16) attack. Pattinson came to the crease at 2/18 and departed 174 runs later after an exceptional century including 12 boundaries and three sixes to give Doveton a strong tally to defend next week.
In the other Casey-area result, Narre North (175) pushed past the century-mark with a gutsy lower-order effort from captain Ben Doran (45 not out) while James Kellett (4/32) snared the scalps for Hampton Park (5/23).
