Premier Cricket 2018-19: Camberwell Magpies’ clash against Fitzroy Doncaster in the balance

A rearguard half-century from Dylan Hodge has Camberwell Magpies’ clash against Fitzroy Doncaster evenly poised.

Chris Moore puts in an appeal. Picture: Rob Leeson

A rearguard half-century from Dylan Hodge and a late wicket from Andrew Fekete has Camberwell Magpies’ clash against Fitzroy Doncaster evenly poised after the opening day.

Hodge went to the wicket at Camberwell Sports Ground with the Magpies 6-138, crushing 74 from just 79 deliveries to lift Camberwell to a competitive total of 234 after being sent in by Lions captain Ejaaz Alavi.

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Hodge’s knock, which included 11 fours and a six, was his highest score for the club and has the Round 8 Premier Cricket clash in the balance.

Ben Rowles on the attack. Picture: Rob Leeson

Magpies captain Fekete then had Zac Elliott trapped lbw with the second last ball of the day to leave Fitzroy Doncaster 1-17 at stumps.

Camberwell coach Brad Loveluck said he was happy with how the game was situated.

“The wicket was a little bit tacky, obviously overhead conditions suited swing bowling as well so it wasn’t an easy pitch to go out there and score quickly on,” Loveluck said.

“It still looked like the ball was nipping around even a little bit after tea.

“After having a look at it at the start of the day and seeing the first hour, you probably would have taken 250.

“Getting 234 on the board is a pretty competitive and to have them 1-17, we’ve got a bit of work to do but I’ll back our bowlers in to get the job done.”

Daniel Rawson works one into the leg-side. Picture: Rob Leeson

Openers Daniel Rawson (11) and Ben Rowles (32) negotiated the new ball for the first 90 minutes with a 47-run opening stand, happy to let the swinging ball travel through to the keeper.

But both fell in the space of three runs to Trent Lawford, bringing Oli Gunning and Simon Hill together.

Gunning (19) and Hill (35) added 42 for the third wicket only for the pair to depart to left-armer Chris Moore, before Zac Parr grabbed his maiden First XI wicket when he bowled English import Lewis McManus (8).

Parr has played 111 games across Fitzroy Doncaster’s seconds, thirds and fourths since joining the club in 2010-11 and finished with the respectable figures of 1-41 off 12 overs on debut.

Tom Russ (18) then became Lawford’s third victim as Camberwell slumped to 6-138.

Andrew Fekete grabbed a late wicket for the Magpies. Picture: Chris Eastman/AAP

But a crucial 52-run partnership for the seventh wicket between Hodge and James Rosewarne (23) advanced the score to 7-191, setting up an intriguing contest.

Hodge was the second-last batsman out as the tail added an important 43 runs for the last three wickets.

Lawford swept through the lower-order to finish with 6-45 off 25 overs, moving him to the top of the leading wicket-takers tally with 23 scalps to put him on track to again reach 50 wickets this season.

Moore was the other multiple wicket-taker with 2-69 from 25 overs, including eight maidens.