By JARROD POTTER
Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association – South East 1st XI Round 8 (One day)
ENDEAVOUR Hills (150) did not fare well in its four-wicket loss to Box Hill (6/152) as the top order collapsed.
The wickets fell rapidly on the slow deck at Sydney Pargeter Reserve as the Eagles’ top order fell to 6/56.
Ben Swift (17) toiled to stay at the crease and struggled to get his cut shot working.
However he had the benefit of luck from a couple of French cuts and top edges.
Similar work from Justin Merlino (15) to hold on kept a true collapse from unfolding before the duo succumbed.
Swift’s innings would draw to a close off Robert Fortington (3/22), leaving the work up to the lower order.
The Eagles found plenty of life in the tail as Vaughan Baxter (30), Richard Saniga (28) and captain Chris Pereira (14) eked out a 150 par-score on a bleak day.
Endeavour Hills made the Mustangs fight for every run as an inspired knock from Gaurav Parikh (85) proved the difference between the sides.
Parikh singlehandedly took on the Eagles’ attack as Periera (2/20) and Alastair Christy (1/30) toiled valiantly.
Parikh fell to Christy with 10 left to notch but the Mustangs’ lower order completed the task with three overs to spare.
Noble Park now leaps into the top six with the win, displacing Endeavour Hills which slide down to seventh.
Heavy rain on Friday and the predicted poor forecast forced the postponement of the remaining Dandenong area fixtures including the Dandenong District Cricket Association’s turf grades and Victorian Premier Cricket for the men’s and women’s competitions.
The DDCA has rescheduled its Round 7 one-day clashes to Sunday 15 February from noon while Victorian Premier Cricket will adjust its Round 13 matches into one-dayers this weekend.
