DDCA: State of play in Turf 2 and 3 grand finals with second day postponed due to rain

The DDCA Turf 2 grand final hangs in the balance after rain postponed the second day, but it was on track to be a one-sided affair before a remarkable spell saved Parkmore’s chances.

DDCA Turf 2 grand final: HSD v Parkmore Pirates. Pirates bowler Niranjen Kumar. Picture: Valeriu Campan

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.