DDCA: Parkmore returns to Turf 1 after fighting victory over HSD, Silverton prevail in Turf 3

Parkmore stared down defeat in both innings of the DDCA Turf 2 decider, yet prevailed courtesy of a risky batting order shake-up.

Parkmore Pirates won the DDCA Turf 2 2024/25 premiership.

Parkmore has returned to the DDCA’s top flight.

And this time, it will be armed with the experience of a testing 2022/23 campaign that saw the Pirates bounce back into Turf 2 with just one win.

“We know what the step up feels like and looks like,” said skipper Niranjen Kumar.

“At this stage we obviously haven’t put much thought into that, we’re just enjoying what this (premiership) is … fortunately most of the list that was part of that Turf 1 effort is still around at the moment.

“Also the newer players, we don’t want to be too biased about how hard that jump might be, we just want to play with each other and enjoy that.”

Parkmore’s Turf 2 finals strike rate is impressive, with two flags in the past four seasons coming from its only two finals appearances.

The latest, a six-wicket win as Parkmore mustered 4-171 in reply to Heinz Southern District’s 170, was anything but a certainty.

The Pirates had finished behind HSD on the ladder and found themselves under pressure in both innings - but just as defeat loomed large, they would stare it down defiantly.

Having taken 8-68 in the first innings to pull back a commanding opening from the Cobras and restrict them to 170, Parkmore found themselves flailing at 4-39 in return, promotion slipping from its grasp.

“We knew that most of the top six bats have played a winning hand in previous games, we just told each other one partnership, two partnerships could get us there,” Kumar said.

“It just worked out that collapses happened at the start of the game, we all just got to tea break and gave ourselves the hope that we can get the job done.”

Parkmore Pirates bowler Niranjen Kumar. Picture: Valeriu Campan

A bold batting order shake-up proved masterful as Satheesh Fernandu played a winning hand from no. 6 after opening all season.

He struck 74 not out from 103 balls to cap off a fine season, while Joshua Tonna was the anchor the Pirates desired, fending off 169 deliveries for an unbeaten 65.

“We did change the batting order as well to help lengthen it … any batting order change is only as good as the person’s output in the other position,” Kumar said.

“Satheesh put his hand up to bat in the middle order and it was a match-winning innings … it was just for the grand final and the match-ups against HSD’s bowlers, we thought it was better that he faced an older ball, he prefers facing spinners and whatnot so it worked in our favour and he scored quickly enough to take the game away from HSD.

“It’s not possible without Josh Tonna who pretty much absorbed all the pressure when we were losing wickets, he was super professional, just absorbing that pressure, rotating strike, once the partnership was over 20 or 30 runs they just found their groove.”

On the other side of the coin, the chapter that at many points for HSD was shaping as its greatest for some time, has instead culminated in further heartbreak.

The Turf 2 premiership and a return to the top division has now eluded the Cobras for four consecutive finals campaigns - which have been bookended by crushing grand final losses to Parkmore.

The Pirates are relishing their success.

“It sinks in as the day goes by,” Kumar said.

“People are sharing their photos and videos, it’s pretty special.”

In Turf 3, Silverton defended 206 to down Keysborough in the decider.

Harkanwal Singh capped off a season that saw him tie for the Ian McDonald Medal with a match-winning 6-42 from 19.4 overs.

Dylan Hayes also chipped in with three wickets.

It was a disappointing loss for Keysborough, who had been hoping its stay in Turf 3 would be short-lived after last seasons relegation from Turf 2.

The Knights had finished the home and away season on top of the ladder, but slumped to 4-65 in the run chase before being skittled for 132.

Earlier: State of play in Turf 2 and 3 grand finals after rain postponement

A remarkable 26-over spell from Parkmore tweaker Ammar Bajwa has rescued his side’s DDCA promotion hopes as the Turf 2 decider hangs in the balance.

Heinz Southern Districts had been primed to take the grand final away from Parkmore at 2-132, but lost their last eight wickets for 38 runs to be skittled for 170.

With play abandoned on the second day of the clash abandoned due to rain, the sides will reconvene at Thomas P Carroll Reserve on Saturday to fight it out for the Turf 2 title and promotion to the top flight.

“It was uncharted territory for us that the opening bowlers didn’t take a wicket, we were probably in a pickle there,” reflected Parkmore captain Niranjen Kumar.

“But we’ve got depth, we’ve got six bowling options, so on any given day it could be someone’s day … it was good to see our guys respond well and keep it tight.”

Parkmore Pirates bowler Ankit Saxena. Picture: Andrew Batsch

The Cobras batsmen had dealt with the venom of opening Parkmore quick Ankit Saxena superbly. Saxena, who played Premier firsts cricket last year but returned to the local level after battling injury, has been a revelation this season in Turf 2 with 29 wickets, but was kept to 0-40 from 15 overs on Saturday.

Brent Patterson (35 off 85 balls) and Ethan French (62 off 189) got HSD off the a solid start and Triyan De Silva also chipped in with 30 from 55 balls.

Kumar lauded the efforts of Pirates off-spinner Bajwa and seamer Satheesh Fernandu in keeping his side in the game.

The pair took nine wickets between them, with Bajwa taking 6-44 from 26.4 overs — which he bowled consecutively.

“We knew that (HSD) bat well and they like posting big totals,” Kumar said.

“I don’t think it was possible without our spinner (Ammar Bajwa) … he’s an experienced campaigner for us, he hasn’t taken massive bags of wickets but we know what he’s capable of.

“I don’t think the ball was turning much, it was just more he had the right field setting for him and was just strangling the opposition and getting them to play false shots.

“We got Mackenzie Gardner before the tea break caught behind, and then got a bit of momentum going into the tea break.

“After the tea break we continued that form, Satheesh got three wickets as well so that helped, bowling in partnerships.”

DDCA Turf 2 grand final: HSD batter Triyan De Silva. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Kumar said that a “positive start” with the bat would be key when the match resumes this Saturday.

“You don’t know what’s a good total until two teams bat on (the pitch), we know that they’re a strong bowling line-up as well,” Kumar said.

“We’ve got to make a positive start and chip away at the total … optimistic, but if we all chip in, fingers crossed we can get there.”

In the Turf 3 decider, of which the second day has also been pushed back to this Saturday because of the rain, Silverton has set Keysborough a total of 206 to chase down.

Tharindu Gamage struck a crucial 62 from 77 balls in the Bakers’ innings, while opener Robert North laid the foundations early with a gritty 42 from 97 deliveries.

Ashan Fernando led the way for the Knights with the ball on day one with 3-23 from nine overs, while James Wright, Abhinay Motupalli and Christo Otto all picked up a pair of scalps each.