Cricket Southern Bayside: Mordialloc opener scores superb century in Championship division
The Bloodhounds’ star recruit cover drove his way to a magical century in Cricket Southern Bayside Championship. And a young leggie had a big day out.
South East
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Dropped early on, Mordialloc opener Chamindru Mathra made Hampton pay dearly on Saturday.
The former Sri Lankan first-class player peeled off 116 not out to help the Bloodhounds make a winning return to CSB Championship division.
Mathra’s ton set up a juicy score of 4-223 off 40 overs at a quick Boss James Reserve.
In reply, Hampton was dismissed for 165.
Acting Mordialloc captain Mat Campbell described Mathra’s crisp century as “almost flawless’’.
“He got dropped on about six at first slip and then didn’t give another chance,” Campbell said.
“He was walking down the pitch at blokes, playing proper cricket shots.
“The deck and outfield helped him but it was one of the best hundreds I’ve ever seen.”
Hampton left the cover region open for Mathra, hoping to draw a nick.
But the right-hander saw it as an opportunity to fill his boots, and that he did, unleashing an array of classical cover drives.
“He was literally walking at (Hampton paceman) Charlie Ross and just punching him through cover for four,” Campbell said.
“And Charlie Ross is probably the quickest in the comp.
“And there was a fair tail wind.”
Mathra hit eight boundaries and one six, and shared a 105-run second wicket partnership with Ryan Morris (47).
Jakob Woinarski chimed in with 27 as the Bloodhounds surged last 200.
With the ball, Mordialloc had options aplenty.
Hampton got off to a good start, reaching 0-69, before Campbell’s off spinners removed both openers.
AK Tyrone, who according to Campbell “bowls like Sunil Narine, out the front of the fingers’’, captured 4-25 off eight overs to rip the heart out of the Hampton batting.
Mathra capped off a great game by taking 2-34 with his offies.
Mordialloc won the Division 1 flag last season but lost several top line players in the off-season. Campbell believes the Bloodhounds can mix it with all comers this season.
“It’s 11 contributors that are going to win us games of cricket this year,” he said.
Young leg-spinner Om Satija delivered an electric debut performance for Bentleigh, grabbing 6-7 off 5.1 overs to set up the Demons’resounding win over Carnegie.
Satija, originally from WA, turned the game on its head after being the sixth Bentleigh bowler used.
He took the last six Carnegie wickets to shoot out the visitors for 73.
It’s one of the best Bentleigh debuts in memory.
The Demons swept to victory in less than 20 overs, peeling off 1-75 off 19.3 overs, with Rob Ciccarella unbeaten on 38.
Satija, 18, a football umpire, bumped into Bentleigh captain-coach Jarrad Dowling at the nets in winter and immediately impressed.
“He came over to the nets and said, ‘can I grab a ball and have a bit of a bowl?’,’’ Dowling said.
“And he did...he looked very organised...and his first ball landed and I instantly walked over and said, ‘I’m the coach of Bentleigh, do you play cricket?’’’
Dowling said Satija embraced the momennt and bowled beautifully on Saturday.
“He’s a level headed kid,’’ he said.
“He’s very composed for an 18-year-old bowling leg spin. He has patience and understanding of the craft...I’ve been very impressed with him.
“He didn’t drag a ball down.
“He’d never played first grade anywhere. This was his first game.’’
An unconquered 112-run fifth wicket partnership between Will Russell and Kanishka Alvitigala guided South Caulfield home over Murrumbeena with five wickets and 17 balls to spare.
The Beena put up 9-185, with skipper Brad Kruger (59) and Brett Hardham (56) impressing.
South opening bowler Lachlan Mahon led the South attack with 4-39 off eight overs.
In reply, South Caulfield was wobbling slightly at 4-74 but Russell (66no off 98 balls) and Alvitigala (62no off 52) played beautifully.
Daniel Mueller, Daniel Van Hees and Harley Dale were the stars of Bonbeach’s win over Beaumaris.
Mueller cracked 64no off 66 deliveries and Van Hees 45 as the Sharks put up 9-183.
Paceman Ben Earney, back from St Kilda, was the pick of Beaumaris’s bowlers, with 4-27.
In reply, Beaumaris crashed to 4-23 as Dale, the former Aspendale star, grabbed all four.
Beauie fought back with a 95-run partnership between Chris Hall (62) and Jonathan Leadbeater (38) but fell short at 9-161.
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