DDCA: Cranbourne’s Jakeb Thomas snares 7-19 to steer his side to the Turf 2 finals

Cranbourne’s Jakeb Thomas might be the harshest critic in the DDCA when it comes to his own form. He took 7-19 at the weekend and said it felt like a “relief”.

Eagles star Jakeb Thomas. Picture: Valeriu Campan

It was a sense of relief more than anything for Cranbourne quickie Jakeb Thomas.

Thomas jagged 7-19 against Dandenong West to steer the Eagles to another Dandenong District Turf 2 finals berth.

But the ex-Dandenong speedster delivered a harsh self-assessment when he said the weekend’s display was a long-time coming.

“That’s probably my best (performance), especially at Cranbourne, I probably haven’t lived up to expectations I guess,” Thomas said.

“I haven’t been bowling as good as I would’ve liked to but I guess it helps having Marty (Kelly) and Tim (Fathers) playing so well, they’ve definitely picked up my slack, it makes it a lot easier.”

Eagles star Jakeb Thomas. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Thomas finished the first day with 1-6 before adding 6-13 on the second.

He said he was relieved to have made an impact before modestly praising his teammates in the lower order for taking Cranbourne from 5-79 to 9-227.

“It probably is a bit of relief, I bowled better in the second innings last week as well so it’s good to be firing at this time of the year,” he said.

“It was a team performance, the batting innings, to get to 70 overs against the top team who have only lost twice.

“It was a pretty good display from us all.”

Thomas’ spell helped the Eagles dismiss the Bulls for just 56 in the first innings and now has the Eagles firmly placed in the top four.

Elsewhere, Parkmore Pirates clinched an impressive win over Narre Warren.

Each of the Pirates’ bowlers claimed a wicket in the first innings but Avisha Wilwalaarachchi was the pick of the bowlers with 3-9 off 11 overs.

After bowling the Magpies out for 89 in the first innings, the Pirates pushed for outright points but Narre Warren stabalised in the second innings.

HSD, meanwhile, did grab an outright victory, punishing Lyndale with both bat and ball.

The Cobras took 20 wickets, bowling Lyndale out for 105 and 147.

Mackenzie Gardner struck 93 in the first innings before the Cobras quickly ran down the visitors’ small second-innings lead.

After taking 10 wickets last weekend, Nicholas Jeffery was amongst the wickets again with for Parkfield as his side defeated Keysborough.