DDCA: Narre South holds out Springvale South in last-ball Turf 1 thriller

It was an eventful round of Turf 1 with Narre South edging out Springvale South and ex-Test player Mahela Udawatte playing a blinder for Buckley Ridges.

Udara Hettige hits down the ground for Hallam Kalora Park. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Narre South has done it again.

It has beaten Springvale South for the second time this season.

In a clinker of a DDCA Turf 1 match at Alex Nelson Reserve on Saturday, the Lions held out the Bloods by two runs to stay on the pace for the finals.

They’re fifth on the ladder, but only percentage away from fourth-placed Hallam Kalora Park.

And they have a game in hand after missing a round earlier in the season when Covid hit the St Mary’s squad.

Narre South batted first, put up to 6-218 off its 45 overs and held the home team to 9-216.

It went down to the final ball with the scoreboard showing the Bloods needing two to win.

In fact it wanted three. Regardless, their captain Paul Hill was run out at the bowler’s end, having played a plucky hand of 49.

It came off 56 deliveries and had 2 fours and 1 six.

Springy South had started their chase brightly with openers Ryan Quirk (30) and Mitch Forsyth (41) putting on 58.

The Lions grabbed the wickets of Jordie Wyatt (23), Jackson Sketcher (16) and Blade Baxter (0) to leave the Bloods 5-114.

Hill and Brayden Sharpe (28 off 35) batted them back into the match, but the Lions held on for a victory in which they had more than a few contributors.

Joel Zietsman (3-45 off 10 overs) and Kirk Dickson (2-42 off seven) did their bit with the ball, and captain Kyle Hardy (47), Harsha De Silva (23), youngster Vineth Jayasuriya Arachchige (26), star Kaushalya Weeraratne De Silva (35) and Brad Parker (33no) chipped in with the bat.

Buckley Ridges players celebrate a wicket against Hallam Kalora Park. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Hardy – who has hit 325 runs at 46.4 this season – said it was a terrific win for his side over strong opposition.

“We batted really well to get to a good score and then we bowled really well,’’ he said.

“When we had them five down we were in a good spot, but they’re a good team and they fought back hard.

“(Hill) batted really well. They were in trouble when he went in and he steadied them up and got them to the point they almost won.’’

Hardy said the Lions believed they could match it with all other Turf 1 teams this season, despite losing champion Scott Phillips and fast bowler Josh Dowling from 2020-21.

“We know we’re not viewed as one of the big clubs but inside we think we can compete with anyone,’’ he said.

Former Sri Lankan Test player Mahela Udawatte was player of the match as Buckley Ridges got past Hallam Kalora Park at Park Oval.

It was a game for the bowlers on a new-ball wicket.

The Hawks were bowled out for 136 in the 44th over and Buckley got the winning runs eight wickets down.

The hosts were thankful for Udawatte’s blast of 64 off 44 balls from No 3.

He caned 10 fours and 2 sixes. Stalwart Troy Aust’s 27 not out was vital at the finish after Hawks captain Jordan Hammond (4-45 off 11 overs) struck some big blows early and then late.

“Mahela batted brilliantly, and Troy as well to see us home,’’ Buckley Ridges captain Ben Wright said.

“We’ve seen it a couple of times this season with Mahela. When he gets going he’s unbelievable, pretty hard to stop. That knock on Saturday was his best so far, in terms of the context of the game.’’

Buckley Ridges star Michael Davies asks the question. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Berwick skipped past St Mary’s at Arch Brown Reserve, answering 163 with 3-167 inside 30 overs, Jordan Cleland (65 off 63 balls) and Lachie Brown (55 off 69) raising 122 for the first wicket.

Classy Brodie Emmett, finding some form after a lean start to the season, was 28 not out.

All-rounder Kusan Niranjana (69 off 79 deliveries) and Raveen Nanayakkara (51) made the bulk of the runs for the Saints.

James Wilcock (5-39 off 12 overs) led the Berwick attack.

In the remaining game North Dandenong picked up its third win, at the expense of Narre Warren.

Clay McCartney (79no) hit his third half-century of the season as North came in with 6-232, Tahsinullah Sultani (57) and Austin Heldt (39) contributing too.

Narre gave it a good shake, reaching 8-215, thanks largely to Bevan Radhakrishnan’s 70 not out.

Matthew Cox batting for Hallam Kalora Park. Picture: Valeriu Campan

In Turf 2, hard-hitting left-hander Amal Athulathmudali made a thumping return to Parkmore Pirates, blitzing 107 not out against Cranbourne.

Athulathmudali played for Sub-District club Noble Park in 2020-21 and had been with Gippsland club Yarragon this season.