Brighton coach praises all-rounder while Elsternwick newcomer delivers again

A stoic Subbies century was outdone and a competition newcomer delivered again as the North/South ladder shifted again. Here’s who caught the eye.

It’s not every week a Subbies opening bat produces 144 not out and gets outdone.

But it happened over the course of Saturday and Sunday, as Brighton’s opening bat Brenton Murphy played second fiddle to an extraordinary all-round performance from Glen Parker.

Parker carved out 72 in the first innings before 6-28 and 6-36 to deliver Tonners their second outright victory in three weeks.

The performance has propelled the Tonners into the top five and it won’t be forgotten by coach John Damiano anytime soon.

“To make 70 and take 12 in tough conditions, it’s one of the best performances I have seen in Sub-District cricket and I have seen a lot of good ones,” he said.

“As a player he has been fantastic in our group, he obviously come over this year after a year off.

“To see him get 70 was fantastic and the way he bowled was unbelievable.”

Glen Parker batting for former club Malvern. Picture: Valeriu Campan

The Tonners posted 8-274 before driving through Strathmore twice, 10-104 and 10-84, to win by an innings and 86 runs.

Damiano reveals the three wins in a row, came after some hard truths were told following a disappointing loss in round 10.

“We had a bit of a conversation after the Caulfield game and we chose to go hard in the T20 and just start winning games of cricket,” he said.

“I think the Ivanhoe game (round 11) then triggered the boys into action because we had to win and win outright.

“The attitude had been good all year, but since then the boys have gone to a more confident level and are playing good cricket.

“It wasn’t just a First XI thing, it was a general club one because the First XI were performing okay, but they weren’t performing at the level they were capable of.

“Across the club it was a commitment discussion and what guys want to get out of playing cricket, if you perform to the best you can you have had a successful year no matter the result.

“We weren’t doing that as a club across all grades, since then the commitment has been better, I think the ones have grabbed the bull by the horns – to be fair they were pretty good (beforehand).

“It was just a better commitment and a push to take the game on because they are all really good players.”

Elsternwick, meanwhile, led by mystery-man Michael Edwards has snuck into the top six with two games left in the home and away season.

Edwards’ 87 on Saturday steered the Eels to 9-243, which was then defended comfortably with 44 runs in the bank.

Edwards – a former Victorian under-17 representative – had a break from cricket before surfacing in the Eels’ Third XI in December.

He made a century on club debut and has made scores of 73 and 87 in his brace of appearances in the ones.

“I took a year and a half off and I dipped my toe back in down there in the thirds and now I am fully back into it,” Edwards said.

“There’s not as much pressure on it anymore, I just wanted to enjoy it and it’s just evolved since I got back.

‘Being able to train, the boys are good, enjoyment is the main difference.”

Michael Edwards has made an impact after joining the Eels. Picture: FACEBOOK

Prior to his break, Edwards played for Mornington Peninsula club Tyabb, where he didn’t show his true class.

But it’s different for the right-hander now and he feels an internal rebuild is responsible.

“I did a bit of work with one of my old coaches before I started playing again,” he said.

“I basically built my game from the bottom again I suppose, just got back to the basics with what would work and what skills I had and what I needed to work on.”

The Eels sit three points clear inside the top six with just one side inside the top eight on the horizon (Ormond, fourth).

“All the sides are sort of around the mark with an opportunity, the club is in a really good spot in the ones,” he said.

“We sort of said before we went out to field that our season was on the line in that innings, we needed to win yesterday and we got it done, so we are really looking forward to the last two games.

“If we get two results, we should find ourselves in a good spot.”

Elsewhere for South clubs, Kew’s triumph over Oakleigh has the Oaks sitting in unfamiliar territory in eighth.

Matt Grace’s men set the locals 148, which was ultimately a laconic pursuit for the ladder leaders, who finished the day at 5-189.

Caulfield’s win over Ormond has locked in the valuable top-two finish for the green and gold while simultaneously pushing the Monders down to fourth.

An enchanting 113 from just 108 balls from David Tantsis-Hall guided Caulfield to 339, and while the Ormond appeared to be a chance with Adam Bull (60) and James Wild (69) motoring, the task proved too great.