Subbies south-east: Damiano blasts off, Binners routed for 39
Brighton captain Ricky Damiano made a spectacular start to the Sub-District season, but Moorabbin did the opposite, being castled for 39 against Malvern.
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It was a trifling target for Brighton, yet Ricky Damiano still managed to play a spectacular innings.
From 27 balls the Tonners captain thrashed 75 not out as the home team dashed to victory over Endeavour Hills in Round 1 of the VSDCA south-east section on Saturday.
The Hills had been bowled out for 81 in 25.5 overs.
With Damiano smoking 9 fours and 4 sixes, Brighton sped to 0-83 off 10 overs in a rollicking reply.
Brenton Murphy (5no) was happy to take in the view from the other end and watch his skipper bruise the bowling. The match was over by 3.20pm.
In 2019-20 Damiano broke Brighton’s record for most runs in a season, peeling off four centuries on his way to 716 runs at 59.7, and Saturday was a fair indication he’s still on good terms with his bat’s sweet spot.
It was a stinging loss for the Hills, whose batting crumbling before the pace of Luke Shimmin and Cal Rayner. They pocked three wickets apiece.
A similar scoreline unfolded at Elsterwick Park, with Noble Park recruit Amal Athulathmudali blitzing 66 not out off 33 balls, with 5 sixes and 5 fours on a big ground.
The former Sri Lankan first-class player, signed from the Dandenong association through new captain and perennial club champion Issi Perera, led the new-look Parkers to 4-105 off 15.5 overs.
They cruised past Elsty’s 101, the hosts bowled out in 36.2 overs. Perera (3-13 off eight overs) and newcomer Janaka Gunaratne Liyanabadalge (3-23 off eight) both had early-season strikes with the ball against an Elsternwick team missing the experience of Cam Christensen, out injured.
Noble Park had six players making their first appearance for the club, including 16-year-olds Matt Pearson and Neil D’Souza, who was captain of the Under 17 grand final team last season.
“He hits the ball a long way; he was clearing the boundary by 15, 20m,’’ Noble president Craig Ortland said of Athulathmudali.
Ducks were quacking at the Moorleigh Community Village on Saturday as Moorabbin was swept aside for 39 in just over 15 overs against Malvern.
Six batsmen failed to get off the mark, and two scores of four were the highest on a threadbare card.
Extras contributed 23, with Malvern bowling 21 wides.
Tim Arbon and Glen Parker both nabbed 3-4, but there’s little doubt they’ll bowl a lot better and gain less rewards this season.
Moorabbin had started the match, and the season, the best way possible, with quickie Damsara Menuwara getting Malvern opener Dan Fielding LBW with the first ball of the match.
The Binners had the visiting side 5-61 when Parker hit a long-hop from Moorabbin newcomer Riley Pattinson straight into the hands of Aayush Bhansali at short fine-leg. Parker was on 33 and batting with authority. Roosters coach Chris McCormick controlled the innings the rest of the way, his 60 not out allowing Malvern to reach 8-166 off their 40 overs. McCormick faced 75 deliveries and hit 2 fours and 2 sixes.
Medium pacer Clayron Landers took 3-41 for the Binners, sharing the new ball with Menuwara.
Facing a Moorabbin team depleted from last season, the Roosters must have thought they had enough runs. But no one could have foreseen the collapse in the second phase of the match.
Croydon had a rugged time of it with the bat too, falling for 87 in 28.4 overs against Ormond at The Gunn. Blade Baxter and Brendan Barry both took three wickets for the Monders, who clipped 4-90 in the reply to give new skipper Ben Speake a winning start. Speak made 21 at the top of the list, and Sachin Varadajaran (21no) saw the home team past the target.
In the round’s tightest contest, Balwyn defended its 168, restricting Bayswater to 9-166.
Guy Looker (47), Tom Audley (41) and skipper Lachie Fitzpatrick (35) repaired the Tiger innings after they had slumped to 4-9 in the face of the new-ball attack from Quinton Hodgkinson (2-37) and Nick Rickerby (3-31). Ben Livingstone weighed in with 3-33 for Baysy, who just fell short in the chase. Tim Sugumar’s 53 off 56 balls (6 fours) put them on course to achieve it.
Harry Dixon claimed the first two wickets of the Bayswater innings, and went on to four scalps. Fitzpatrick had three.
At Caulfield Park, Caulfield had the best of its great rival Oakleigh.
In a battle of the teams that made it through to last season’s aborted grand final, the Fielders reached 8-153 after a wag from their tail, and dismissed the Oaks for 96.
Dan Anderson’s 37 not out and Dale Denny’s 26 improved the hosts from 6-91.
They had lost the great Graeme Rummans for a second-ball duck, leg-before to Mick Splatt, who collected 3-31 off his eight overs.
Splatt top scored with 33 for the Oaks, who lost key recruits and openers Ryan Pearson and Jack Blyth cheaply and didn’t recover.
Blake Pearson had a handy debut for Oakleigh, hitting 27 and taking 2-29.
Mt Waverley protected its total of 150, knocking over Box Hill for 150.
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