By Tyler Lewis
BUCKLEY RIDGES v BERWICK:
PARK OVAL – 12:30PM
The Dandenong District Turf 1 finals series are here, and the heavy weights are set to do battle in four enormous matches over the space of three weeks.
For Buckley Ridges and Berwick in the first semi-final, it’s a simple equation: win and in.
The winner of this contest will book the first ticket to the big dance at Alex Nelson Reserve in two weeks.
The Bucks will enter the contest firm favourites, but the two sides took one win and one loss from the two outings this summer, with the home side losing on both occasions.
The Bears had the week off after its final round match with the Bloods was deemed a wash out, and while many would want a fine tune up on the eve of the finals, Bears spearhead skipper James Wilcock believes the week off will pay dividends for his group.
“I think the week off is going to do us (the world of) good, actually,” he said.
“I know a few of the boys are pretty sore, it has been a bit of a workload with Saturday-Sunday cricket, so it gave us a week to freshen the batteries and we will be ready to go this week”.
Berwick are embracing the underdog title this week, with early wickets on a ‘hated’ deck the key to the Bears causing an upset in the eyes of Wilcock.
“I think if we can get early wickets it’ll go a long way to knocking them over, they load up pretty heavily up top with (Ben) Wright and (Mahela) Udawatte,” he said.
“But they also have some pretty handy players all the way down, if we can get stuck into their middle order earlier than we did last time that will give us a good shot at getting the win.
“It’s probably my most hated ground to play on, to be honest.
“Your good balls can just get hit to the creek and you’re left scratching your head, thinking ‘what am I going to do?’ especially if a good batter gets going.
“It’s pretty hard to defend there, that’s why early wickets are key and making sure a good batsmen doesn’t get in, otherwise they’re going to be hard to stop.”
WHAT THE GAZETTE SAYS:
This game will be one and lost in the first innings.
On the stone throw dimensions that are Park Oval, early wickets or a decent total in the first dig could kill this contest before the innings break.
Mahela Udawatte holds the key for the Bucks with the blade, he is yet to reach triple-figures this summer, but with 547 runs @ 45.53, a towering score can’t be far away.
The Bears will be mindful of a receiving a large total to chase if they are to bowl first, especially without the likes of Brodie Emmett and Matt Chasemore, but on the flipside, the Berwick outfit will also be backing in James Wilcock and Andrew Perrin to knock over the top order.
FINALS BRACKET:
SEMI FINAL: Buckley Ridges v Berwick
ELIMINATION FINAL: Narre South v Springavale South
PRELIMINARY FINAL: Loser of SF v Winner of EF
GRAND FINAL: Winner of SF v Winner of PF
