VSDCA: Brighton fights back against Port Melbourne
Blazing centuries, bags of wickets and a dramatic twist...it all happened in an entertaining opening day of VSDCA South East round two action.
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Fortunes fluctuated as Port Melbourne and Brighton faced-off on Saturday, both chasing their first win of the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association season.
The Borough were in the box seat after shooting out Brighton for 150 at North Port Oval, but some late drama left the contest in the balance at stumps.
A burst of hostile bowling by Brighton captain Peter Cassidy and his new-ball partner William Sist had Port Melbourne wobbling at 3-6 in reply.
Cassidy grabbed two wickets and Sist one before the Borough steadied thanks to Englishman George Homer (11no), going to stumps at 3-19.
Earlier, Port Melbourne skipper Ryan McDonald nabbed 3-47 off 19 overs, including two return catches, and Scottish paceman Lewis O’Donnell 3-28 off 14 overs as Brighton struggled, slumping to 5-42 and then eking out 150.
Brighton No. 5 Jason Soames did his best to hold the innings toether with a fighting 69 off 174 balls and Cooper Hollway made 36 off 57.
Elsewhere, two of the competition’s best batters blazed centuries.
Former Indian first-class player Akshay Ballal made 112 on debut for Mt Waverley, steering his side to 9-322 against Box Hill. He and Kurt Benjamin put on 144 for the sixth wicket after coming together at 5-139.
Elsternwick captain Lincoln Edwards smacked 139 off 130 balls, with 6 sixes and 11 fours, in a total of 308 against Noble Park. Muharjithan Thedchanamoorthy did best with the ball, taking 3-62.
Ormond new-ball bowler Nicholas Oaten captured 5-40 to rip through the Moorabbin top order. Oaten took three wickets in quick succession as Ormond crashed from 0-15 to 3-15, then 6-53, before posting 147. In reply, Ormond reached 3-51 at stumps, with Rory Freeman unbeaten on 34.
Croydon skipper Jack Conroy made 61 off 104 balls to help his side to 208 against James Pattinson’s Oakleigh. Pattinson took 2-28, while Oaks skipper Ryan Pearson collected 3-33.
Malvern captain Andrew Fekete led an impressive bowling performance as the Roosters knocked over Balwyn for 108. Fekete took 3-35 off 16 overs, supported by Chris McCormick (3-13) and Ben Slack (2-24). Malvern was 3-44 in reply.
Bayswater opening bowler Lachlan Payne snared 5-51 off 20 overs to help dismiss Endeavour Hills for 162. Bineth Bandara (33) and Madurawalage Jayasundera (30) did best for the Hills. Bayswater was 1-49 at stumps.
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