DDCA champion Daniel Watson made an eye-catching Turf 1 return at the weekend

One of the Dandenong District’s most decorated players made a loud return to the top flight on Saturday with a characteristically six-filled innings. And his appearance won’t be a one-off, either.

Dandenong District cricket CA: Buckley Ridges v Mordialloc. Mordialloc keeper D. Mapa and Buckley Ridges batsman Daniel Watson. Picture: Valeriu Campan

One of the Dandenong District Association’s finest players made a not-so-subtle return to Turf 1 cricket on Saturday.

Daniel ‘DJ’ Watson made his first appearance for Buckley Ridges’ top side since the 2022-23 season.

Batting at No. 6, he took the Bucks from a spot of bother (4-117) against Narre South to a defendable score (7-223).

Watson packed three fours and seven towering sixes into an entertaining 69 from just 37 balls.

Bucks coach Manjula Munasinghe said Watson, who has won premierships, bowled at good pace and made 12 dazzling Turf 1 tons, was a welcome return.

“He started the first week of pre-season and he gave us the signal that he would come and play, it’s good to have him back playing all year,” Munasinghe said.

Daniel Watson in action.

“As you would’ve seen we were struggling a bit for the first 20 overs and when he got in we had to get some runs.

“He’s the ideal person to be batting No. 6, the ideal person to get us going.

“He hadn’t had a good hit at training yet but once he hit the ball, it stayed hit – he cleared a few boundaries to put us in the driving seat.

“He’s one of the greatest in the DDCA and he’s back.

“It strengthens up our batting and strengthens up our leadership with Hobbsy (captain Jayson Hobbs).”

The Bucks, led by 4-33 from Englishman Prav Chahal, restricted the Lions to 10-181.

Munasinghe is pleased with the Bucks’ 2-0 start to the season but says his side still has room to progress.

“Wins are wins but we have a lot of areas to improve on still,” he said.

“I will take the win but we have a lot of improving, we will discuss it with the captains and leaders and move on to the next game at Berwick.

“They (Berwick) have a good batting line-up, don’t they? It’ll be a good test for us.”

Watson. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Elsewhere, Springvale South captain Cameron Forsyth carved 89no to steer the Bloods over Berwick.

Forsyth put on 139 with brother Mitch (74) as the Bloods mowed down the Bears’ 6-213 with four overs and eight wickets to spare.

Michael Wallace (60), Jake Hancock (50) and Jordan Cleland (45) were among the run-getters for Berwick.

Beaconsfield, meanwhile, missed an opportunity to defeat Hallam Kalora Park.

The Tigers dismissed the Hawks for 111 and were 2-51 in reply before suffering a major collapse.

Lee Brown took 4-16 off 12 for the Hawks, as the Tigers lost 8-52 to eventually fall nine runs shy.

Lauchlan Gregson (2-19 off seven) and William Whyte (2-13 off 6.4) also played crucial roles for the Hawks.

A century from Imran Laghmani propelled North Dandenong to its first win of 2024-25.

Laghmani hit 11 fours and one six in his run-a-ball 100 against Dandenong West.

The Maroons posted 9-202 before bowling the Bulls out for 119.