Prahran records four-wicket win over Camberwell in Premier Cricket

PRAHRAN secured a tense four-wicket win over Camberwell to post its third Premier Cricket victory of the season and continue the Magpies’ hit and miss start to the campaign

Ben Rowles slashes one through the covers. Picture: Mark Dadswell

PRAHRAN secured a tense four-wicket win over Camberwell to post its third Premier Cricket victory of the season and continue the Magpies’ hit and miss start to the campaign.

The True Blues reached Camberwell’s tally of 9-236 in the final over of their 50-over fixture on Saturday thanks largely to a 104-run stand for the third wicket between James Billington (76) and Jacob Serry (73).

Needing seven runs from the last over at Camberwell Sports Ground, Prahran skipper Nathan McNally saw the visitors home after plonking Camberwell coach Brendan Drew over the cover boundary for six with four balls to spare.

Prahran celebrate the wicket of Camberwell captain Tom Russ. Picture: Mark Dadswell

While the scoreboard suggested a close game, Drew said his side was flattered by the result.

“I guess we were probably lucky that it went that long (to the final over), to be honest,” Drew said.

“We were pretty poor, it seems it’s one step forward and one step back a little bit at the moment.

“It was probably one of our worst fielding performances, lack of intensity which allowed them to turn ones into twos and a few dropped catches when you have the bare minimum of runs on the board.”

Camberwell spluttered its way to 4-73 after being sent in first, with the key pair of Tom Russ (7) and Simon Hill (21) back in the sheds.

But a measured knock from Daniel Rawson (76 from 114 deliveries) proved to be the backbone of the Magpies’ innings, with Drew (27), Shubham Bhargave (31) and Dylan Hodge (34 not out) providing valuable support.

Matt Wilcox appeals for a lbw. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Rawson, back for his second First XI game after missing 2016-17 with a knee injury, arrived with the score at 3-44 but didn’t depart until the last ball of the 49th over when he was run out.

Billington and Serry guided Prahran’s chase, progressing the score to 2-160 before the former fell to in-form quick Will Walker (3-30).

The left-armer then nabbed a double breakthrough with the wickets of Serry and Will Sutherland (11) to have the True Blues 5-194, keeping the hosts in the game.

But 32-run stand between Stephen Seymour (14) and McNally (22 not out) for the sixth wicket improved Prahran’s record to 3-1 after the opening month, while Camberwell slipped outside the eight with a 2-2 standing.