VSDCA 2018-19: Bayswater and Noble Park North/East group clash in the balance after day one

A late fightback from Noble Park inspired by spinner Kalhath Ilippuli Arachchige left its top-of-the-table clash against Bayswater in the balance after day one.

Matthew Gale hits one through the covers. Picture: Stuart Milligan

A late fightback from Noble Park inspired by spinner Kalhath Ilippuli Arachchige left its top-of-the-table clash against Bayswater in the balance after day one.

Waters captain Blair Allan hit a swashbuckling 32 from just 25 balls at the top of the order, before the classy Tim Sugumar and veteran Ben Osborne batted Bayswater into a comfortable position at 4-186.

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The two put on a 116-run stand for the fifth wicket after Bayswater had earlier lost a clump of wickets to be 4-70.

Kallan Iluppuli Arachchige inspired Noble Park after tea. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Sugumar’s 66 off 110 balls, including 5 fours, was the key innings for the Waters, while Osborne compiled 46 from 109 deliveries.

Bayswater lost Sugumar and Osborne in quick succession before Josh Hudson fell for a first-ball duck as Noble Park grabbed 3-7.

Former Queensland paceman Matt Gale held the lower-order together with 35 not out, but Ilippuli Arachchige was the star after tea.

Ilippuli Arachchige returned 4-22 off 15 overs, his second successive four-wicket haul, as Bayswater dismissed for 238 in 73 overs.

Ilippuli Arachchige has been sadly short of runs this season but more than handy with 15 wickets.

Nilo Perera took 3-40 off 16 overs.

“We probably didn’t bat our best but it’s still a reasonable total,” Allan said.

“The way that we started I would have been looking more for around the 300 mark.

“It wasn’t the score that we probably should have got but still a reasonable score.”

Despite some mammoth scores recorded at the venue this season, Allan said the total was defendable.

“Anything over 200 we can defend,” he said.

“They do have some good bats so we still need to be bowling well but I still think we can defend it.”

Noble Park’s reply will pivot on skipper Luke Wintle, who made 98 not out against Balwyn last week, and champion Isi Perera.

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