Ormond’s three Bs come through with the ball

Rodney Bird, Brendan Barry and Blade Baxter bowled Ormond to victory in a crucial Sub-District clash.

Ormond batsman Luke Heath negotiates the new ball. Picture: Valeriu Campan

For Ormond, it was all the Bs and all the 3s.

Rodney Bird nabbed 3-13 off eight overs, Brendan Barry 3-17 off 7.2 and Blade Baxter 3-10 off eight as the Monders shot down Box Hill in the Round 6 VSDCA match at EE Gunn Reserve on Saturday.

The visitors were dismissed for 117 in 39.2 overs, well short of their target of 9-205.

Bird is 39 in a month, but he’s having another excellent season: the veteran left-arm paceman is second on the south-east section bowling charts with 13 wickets at 7.69.

His economy rate of 2.42 is nothing to sniff at either.

Box Hill had crumbled to 6-33, but Abu Siddiqui (46) and Sam Kimber (27) fought hard to give the total a hint of respectability.

Ormond batsman Tom Buchanan plays to cover. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Just as Ormond split the wickets, the batsmen shared the runs. Luke Heath (23) and Tom Buchanan (31) led off with a 51-run opening partnership, captain Ben Speake made 44 from No 4, James Wild blitzed 35 from 24 balls and Barry clubbed 3 sixes in his 23 not out off nine deliveries.

The victory put Ormond fifth on 18 points, ahead of Box Hill and Mt Waverley on percentage.

Bird is enjoying a season of one-day cricket.

“You’re only in the field for 40 overs and you get to sit back and take it easy for the other 40,’’ he said.

“You bowl a maximum of eight overs. It works out pretty well at my age.’’

He said it was an important win for the Monders.

Malvern remained unbeaten when it rebuilt from a bad start to chase down Noble Park’s 134.

The Roosters slumped to 5-45, but Randy Pathirana and coach Chris McCormick combined to put on a matchwinning 87 for the sixth wicket.

Pathirana eventually fell to champion Noble spinner Isi Perera for 49, leaving it to McCormick (40 not out off 59 balls, with 4 fours) to finish the job with nine balls to spare.

Noble’s consistent opening bowler Nishantha Weerakkody counted the key wickets of Luke Walker (1) and Tom Rickarby (0) in his return.

McCormick’s innings ensured him the big votes in the Holten Medal count: he also took 4-25 off 7.5 overs.

Glen Parker picked up 3-23 off eight and former Test player Michael Beer had 1-7 off seven.

Box Hill bowler Blake Nikolic. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Former Sri Lankan first-class player Janaka Gunaratne top scored for the Parkers with 40 off 57 balls, with 4 fours and 1 six.

Young Blake Hinchliffe opened the batting and hit an encouraging 37.

Former leading Dandenong fast bowler Justin Butterfield had the immaculate figures of 4-10 off eight overs as Brighton proved too strong for Croydon.

Butterfield took one wicket in his opening spell of six overs and returned to dock the tail as the home team was all out for 150 as it pursued 9-175.

“He bowled really well,’’ Brighton captain Ricky Damiano said of the tall left-armer.

“He’s actually been bowling well all season but had no luck. Yesterday he finally got the wickets he deserved.’’

Fellow paceman Sam Hall-Kahan took 3-23 off six overs for the Tonners, who were chuffed with 15-year-old second-gamer Henry Pearson’s performance with the bat.

He made 39 not out off 43 balls on a testing wicket.

Damiano made a run-a-ball 37 and leads the south-east run list with 295 at 59.

Before Christmas the right-hander joined the legendary Val Holten on the Subbies record of 19 First XI centuries. He’s now made nine for Brighton, to go with his 10 for Caulfield.

Damiano said he had been conscious of the milestone in the past two years.

“It would be a nice thing to achieve, but obviously premierships are far more important,’’ he said.

Box Hill bunches after dismissing Ormond batsman Tom Buchanan. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Moorabbin had another tough day with the bat, being knocked over for 60 at Oakleigh.

It could have been worse: the Binners were 8-24, but there was fight from Clayron Landers (17) and Damsara Menuwara (20).

Champion Alexander Jones returned 3-5 off his eight overs for the Oaks, who replied with 4-61.

Elsternwick paceman Hugh Bennett grabbed the first four wickets of the Bayswater innings as Elsty gained a much-needed win.

Bennett finished with 4-11 off his eight overs, Baysy held to 7-103 as they chased 7-147.

Wickie James Earp’s busy 44 not out complemented the hard-made runs of captain Cam Christiansen (38) and Lachie Baker (34).

Luke Saultry was the best of the Bayswater bowlers with 4-32 off his eight overs.

While it was hard work on a testing pitch for the batsmen,

Quinton Hodgkinson hit out for the visitors with 40 not out from 45 balls.

In other matches, Caulfield (2-138) breezed past Endeavour Hills (6-137) and Mt Waverley (9-134) saw off Balwyn (109), thanks largely to Ryan Pearce’s 4-10.