DDCA: Akshat Buch captures five wickets as Springvale South defeats Narre Warren
Springvale South, Hallam Kalora Park, Buckley Ridges and Narre South made bright starts to the Turf 1 season in the Dandenong District association.
South East
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Springvale South’s four big recruits played their first matches for the club but in the end the Bloods leaned on their two outstanding spinners to turn it their way in the DDCA Turf 1 season-starter against Narre Warren on Saturday.
South put up 8-185 off its 45 overs after being sent in by the promoted Turf 2 premier.
Ace Casey South Melbourne signing Jordie Wyatt (19 off 20) missed out, as did Ryan Quirk, Mitch Forsyth and Paul Hill.
The Bloods were thankful for Jackson Sketcher’s even 50 (off 73 deliveries, with 3 sixes and 3 fours) and 42 from newcomer Blade Baxter.
Former Victorian player Jayde Herrick (15), playing only as a batsman, and Akshat Buch (17no) chipped in late in the innings.
Narre Warren made an encouraging start to the chase through openers Luke Clarke and John Mentiplay. They put on 55, but the visitors lost 3-0 as left-arm spinners Buch and Jarryd Straker got to work.
Narre never recovered, being dismissed for 110 in the 34th over.
Dandenong premiership player Buch claimed 5-33 off his 12 overs and Straker 2-38 from his 12.
Hallam Kalora Park made a bright start to its premiership defence, getting the better of Berwick in the 2020-21 grand final rematch.
The Wicks posted 8-168, finishing their innings strongly as captain James Wilcock hit out for 33 off 27 balls.
There were also handy contributions from key recruit Damith Mapa Ralage (39 off 64 balls) and Matt Robertson (21) and, higher in the order, Leigh Brown (35) and Matt Chasemore (22).
Will Whyte was superb with 2-13 off seven overs for the Hawks, who wobbled to 3-35 in the chase, losing Ben Hillard, Leigh Booth and recruit Udara Hettiage cheaply.
But captain Jordan Hammond and Matt Cox came through with a 101-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Hammond’s 57 was off 85 balls and took in 4 fours and 1 six.
Cox’s 58 was made from 99 deliveries and included four boundaries.
It was the matchwinning stand at Hallam Rec Reserve as the home team came in with 6-170 with four balls to spare. Jarrod Goodes (2-53 off 12) and former first-class paceman Andrew Perrin (2-42 off 11.2) ensured Berwick took the match deep.
Buckley Ridges held on to defeat a plucky St Mary’s at Carroll Reserve.
The Saints were 5-59 as they hunted 7-176, but Ashan Anthony blitzed 52 not out – with 3 sixes and 2 fours – and with Navoda Hettiarachchi (27) put on 56 to get them closer than expected.
They finished with a commendable 7-164, with Nanayakkarawasam Kalumshehara (35) a good contributor early in the innings.
Former Sri Lankan Test batsman Mahela Udawatte was on debut for Buckley and made 30 being departing LBW.
Jayson Hobbs (38), Michael Davies (30) and stalwart Troy Aust (31no) did best for the Bucks, who unveiled former English County batsman Ben Wright as their new captain.
He opened the batting with Berwick signing Josh Holden and was out for two. Holden made 28 for a side missing the great Daniel Watson but still bearing two familiar names in Wes Nicholas and Matt Goodwright.
In the remaining Turf 1 game Narre South and North Dandenong played out a tension-filled match at Strathaird Reserve.
North captain Clay McCartney cracked 78 off 92 balls but he lacked support and his side was all out for 144.
Tim Phillips (4-17) and Kirk Dickson (3-41) did most of the damage.
But South had its own troubles with the bat and would have fallen over if not for No 4 Vineth Jayasuriya Arachchige (61 off 93), who was the eighth batsman out with the score on 130.
No 9 Joel Zietsman hit a valuable 14 off 15 balls and it was left to last pair Phillips and Riley McDonald to get the winning runs nine wickets down, denying the doughty North Dandenong.
Former Premier player Javid Khan, a North junior, was outstanding with 4-29 off 8.5 overs.
Elsewhere, Cranbourne’s Marty Kelly grabbed 6-6 off 8.3 overs as Cranny shot out Parkfield for 89 in the Turf 2 match.
The target was 8-145 after Peter Sweeney’s 51 for Cranbourne.
And Springvale’s Nuwan Mendis gave the Fotheringham Reserve boundary a few blasts against Silverton.
Opener Mendis struck 11 sixes and 7 fours on his way to 126 as Springy stacked up 6-275 from their 40 overs.
Silverton replied with 9-119.
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