DDCA Turf 1: Jordan Wyatt hits matchwinning century for Springvale South

Bogged down early, former Premier batsman Jordan Wyatt opened up to score a spectacular century for the Bloods against Berwick.

Jordan Wyatt walks off after his dazzling century for Springvale South. Pic: Kevin Murphy

When Springvale South signed Jordan Wyatt on the eve of the DDCA season, president Jason Quirk called him a hard-hitting and matchwinning batsman.

Those two qualities were apparent in the right-hander’s thrilling knock against Berwick in the Turf 1 match at Arch Brown Reserve on Saturday.

Set 180, the Bloods raised victory in the 41st over, three wickets down, with former Casey South Melbourne batsman Wyatt 124 not out.

He faced 119 deliveries and three of his 5 sixes came off the bowling of Berwick’s former first-class quickie Andrew Perrin.

Jordan Wyatt raises hit bat as he walks off Arch Brown Reserve. Pic: Kevin Murphy.

Wyatt also smoked 8 fours.

The Bloods started their chase slowly, with opener Mitch Forsyth at one stage three off 38 balls.

Wyatt was 13 off 45.

“And they were the worst 13 runs I’ve ever made,’’ he said this morning.

“We were bogged down. It was a real struggle. They (Berwick) were bowling well. We couldn’t really rotate the strike. They set tight fields. I did say to Mitchy, ‘Let’s not stress, we’ll catch it up, we’ve got the firepower’.

“Then Mitchy hit a six off ‘Cheeks’ (Berwick star Matt Chasemore) over mid-on. It was a really nice shot and it sort of changed the momentum a little bit. The next over off ‘Cheeks’ I got one away, finally, and from there it turned and I started hitting them out of the middle.

“It was good.’’

Wyatt, 28, brought up his century with a scorching six down the ground off Perrin.

Springy South quickie Blade Baxter goes at Berwick. Picture: Valeriu Campan

He said he enjoyed the challenge of facing the pace of Perrin and former Dandenong quickie James Wilcock, as well as DDCA great Jarrod Goodes and young leggie Riley Siwes.

Forsyth, back at Springy South after a stint at Dandenong with his brothers Brett and Cam, crafted a patient 36 off 85 balls.

Wilcock took 2-34 off his seven overs and Goodes was as tight as piano wire, conceding only 13 off his seven.

Earlier, Nick Shirt’s 42 off 45 balls (5 fours, 1 six) and Siwes’ 22 not out off 19 balls gave the Berwick innings a flourish in the final overs.

It had been hard going against Bloods left-arm paceman Blade Baxter, who collected 4-46 off 12 overs, and left-arm spinner Akshat Buch (3-36 off seven). Chasemore scrapped out 30 off 65 balls.

Matthew Robertson batting for Berwick. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Wyatt joined Springy South after 84 First XI matches at Casey South Melbourne, where he made 1688 runs at 21.92.

He didn’t intend to play this season because of a shoulder problem that needed surgery.

But with elective surgeries being pushed back owing to Covid, his plans changed.

He started to get “itchy feet’’, which the well-connected Quirk heard about.

“Jase messaged me the Wednesday before Round 1 saying, ‘Do you want to play cricket?’,’’ Wyatt said.

He had played with Ryan Quirk and Josh Dowling at the Swans and took up the offer.

Wyatt said he had been welcomed at Springvale South and was enjoying his cricket and the club.

Nick Shirt hits out late in the Berwick innings. Picture: Valeriu Campan

In other Turf 1 matches, Buckley Ridges’ former Sri Lankan Test player Mehla Udawatte fell two runs short of a century as his team topped Narre Warren’s 215 at The Postage Stamp.

Udawatte was LBW to James Elliott for 98, having slapped 6 sixes and 6 fours.

He shared a 176-run partnership for the second wicket with Josh Holden, who was 92 not out. The left-hander put away 4 sixes and 10 fours.

Cam Dinger had led the Narre batting with 73. Buckley stalwart Wes Nicholas captured 4-53 off his 12 overs.

Hallam Kalora Park tracked down North Dandenong’s 118, making 3-121 in reply at Lois Twohig Reserve.

Stunningly, North lost 7-3 after making its way to 3-115.

The match had two outstanding performers.

North No 3 Javed Khan scored 61 of his side’s runs in a 90-ball hand that featured 4 fours and 1 six.

And Hawks captain Jordan Hammond grabbed 5-26 off his 10 overs.

There was no play in the Narre South-St Mary’s match owing to Covid cases.

In other highlights from the round:

* Coomoora’s Nick Suppree clattered 115 no off 83 balls, with 7 sixes and 9 fours, in his team’s thumping win over Hampton Park in Turf 3. It was his second successive century.

* Filling in because of Covid unavailabilities, St Mary’s president and legendary batsman Troy Cashman took time away from his immaculate lawns to blitz 111 not out against Parkmore Pirates in A grade.

* Cashman’s former St Mary’s teammate Mick McMahon played his 300th match for Beaconsfield, where he has given sterling service on and off the ground.