DDCA Turf 1: Hardy leads Narre South to vital run-chase win over Buckley Ridges
Five teams are hustling for four positions as the race for finals tightens in Turf 1 of the Dandenong District Cricket Association.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Considering the importance of the match and the quality of the opposition, there won’t be many better wins in the DDCA this season.
Set 7-211 against Buckley Ridges in Turf 1 on Saturday, Narre South got there – with three balls to spare.
In doing so, the Lions kept themselves in contention to play in the finals: they’re on 27 points, the same as fourth-placed Hallam Kalora Park.
Springvale South, Buckley Ridges and Berwick are all on 33.
The gap between the top five and rest – North Dandenong (nine points), St Mary’s (nine) and Narre Warren (three) – is as wide as some judges were tipping it would be.
Narre South started its run chase against Buckley well, with captain Kyle Hardy (65) and Morteza Ali (38) putting on 66 for the first wicket.
Hardy was the fifth batsman out, but at 7-167 the hosts were still some way from their target.
But Joel Zietsman (23no) and Tim Phillips (17no) got the winning runs in the last over, their partnership worth 43.
Matty Goodwright (3-44 off 12 overs) did his best to protect the Buckley Ridges total.
Josh Holden (32), captain Ben Wright (37), former Test player Mehla Udawatte (29), Jayson Hobbs (38) and Troy Aust (24) all made useful contributions to it.
Springvale South recruit Jordan Wyatt was in the runs again as the Bloods knocked over Hallam Kalora Park at Frawley Rd.
Wyatt cracked 69 off 75 balls, with 5 fours, to lift the Bloods to 4-208 after they were sent in.
Opener Ryan Quirk hit a half-century too, with his 52 coming off 102 balls and including four boundaries.
Jackson Sketcher spanked 2 sixes in his 49 not out off 44 balls as South went past 200.
The Hawks never got close, dismissed for 142 in the 38th over. Nick Hawking top scored with 39 and Ryan Hillard made 34 after earlier taking 3-35 off six overs.
Sketcher (2-11) helped mop up the tail, and spinner Jarryd Straker nabbed 2-37 off his 12.
Unfortunately for the Bloods, champion Noble Park footballer Kyle Martin suffered a side strain in his first over and was unable to complete it.
At Lois Twohig Reserve, Berwick rallied to reach 166 after encountering early trouble against North Dandenong.
Leg-spinner Riley Siwes came through with a valuable innings of 41 down the list in support of Matt Chasemore (15) and Brodie Emmett (49), who came together with the Wicks wobbling at 4-5.
All seven of North’s bowlers – Sohail Sadiq (3-41 off eight overs), Sushant Gupta (1-31 off nine), Javed Khan (1-11 off five), Rachit Sharma (1-35 off 6.1), Muhammad Khan (1-15 off six), Hasan Ali (2-10 off three) and Alamdar Raza (1-16 off six) – took a wicket.
But the batting wasn’t the equal of a talented Berwick attack: the home team was rolled for 101 in 34 overs.
Slowies Siwes (2-15) and Nick Shirt (3-19) got five wickets between them and Jarrod Goodes had 3-21 off 9.2 overs.
In front of past players watching on at Carroll Reserve, St Mary’s (7-170) got past Narre Warren (137).
A catch-up round is being played today.
Berwick v Narre South at Arch Brown Reserve
North Dandenong v Buckley Ridges at Lois Twohig Reserve
Narre Warren v Hallam Kalora Park at Sweeney Reserve
St Mary’s v Springvale South at Carroll Reserve
Future stars: Player-by-player breakdown of Vic U19s
These young men are the future of Victorian and, possibly, Australian cricket...here’s a look at every player in the Vic U19 Country and Metro sides.
Premier Cricket: Men’s and women’s Team of the Week
Young guns lit up Victorian Premier Cricket in men’s and women’s sections. We’ve named our teams of the week. SEE THEM