By Gavin Staindl
HALLAM-Kalora Park has lifted itself from the bottom of the Dandenong and District Association ladder with a nail-biting one-day win over Dandenong West on Saturday.
Spearheaded by man-of-the-match Cory Booth, the Turf One team clinched victory in the seventh-last ball of the day, holding on for a seven-run victory.
Dandenong West lost its final two wickets in the second-last over as it scampered to score the final 12 runs required to pass the Birds’ first innings total of 4/162.
Fittingly, it was Booth who captured the final wicket as he finished with the figures of 4/31 only hours after making an unbeaten 72.
While making his highest score of the season, Booth shared a 58-run partnership with Hallam’s newest recruit, former Cranbourne coach Johan Vorster (24 not out).
Together they blasted 58 runs from the remaining five overs.
“It was well overdue,” Booth said of his own performance.
“I changed it up a little bit and told myself to be patient rather than come out blazing.”
The win comes only days after Hallam beat Dandenong West in last Tuesday’s Twenty20, in which Booth again top scored for Hallam making 41 not out.
The win advances Hallam from last to eighth with a two-dayer against Parkfield starting on Saturday set to see out the year.
@BT Sub Sport News:NARRE WARREN v HSD
For the first time since 2007, Narre Warren has won three matches in a row after it comfortably held off Heinz Southern Districts by 58 runs at Sweeney Reserve.
It was almost four years ago to the day that Shaun Vanderwert top scored for Narre Warren as the Magpies beat Dandenong West for their third consecutive win.
Just like he did back then, Vanderwert top scored again on Saturday as the Magpies secured their third consecutive win (not counting last week’s washed out result.)
Vanderwert smacked an unbeaten 57 off 61 balls as his side posted 7/163.
In response, HSD were well positioned at 4/90 but a lower-order collapse, sparked by Narre’s Richard Faust 3/14, sent the visitors home for 105.
@BT Sub Sport News:NORTH DANDENONG v BERWICK
League-leaders Berwick escaped what could have been an ugly defeat by beating North Dandenong by two wickets at Lois Twohig Reserve.
It all seemed like clockwork to begin with as Berwick’s bowlers, led by Andrew Perrin (3/24), removed the North attack for 131 runs.
But the often reliable Berwick bats crumbled and at 7/116 there were some anxious faces in the Bears camp as tailender Jarrod Goodes took guard.
But a steady knock by the captain ensured Berwick would retain full points from the day’s play.
@BT Sub Sport News:DOVETON v PARKFIELD
A decisive innings by Ryder Medallist and Parkfield first drop Steven Spoljaric provided the upset of the week as the Bears snatched a five-wicket win over home-town fancies Doveton.
Spoljaric has been in blistering form this summer and Saturday was no different as he recorded an unbeaten 80 to guide the Bears past Doveton’s total of 8/165 with two overs to spare.
Earlier, Doveton failed to find any consistency, losing wickets at a regular rate and aside from Jason Arnberger (44), the Doves struggled to match the prolific scoring rate that has accompanied the side on its last few outings.
TURF TWO
@BT Sub Sport News:SOUTHERN PIRATES v NARRE SOUTH
A game-saving partnership by two middle order batsmen has given Narre South its first win of the season at Wachter Reserve on Saturday.
At 4/37 chasing the Southern Pirates’ 8/161 Narre South looked gone for all money until Brett Armitage (57 not out) and Mark Nelson (56 not out) began their partnership.
Lasting for close to 30 overs, the pair made a 128-run stand and hit the winning runs with one over left – not bad for a team that was done by over 100 runs only five days earlier in a Twenty20.
@BT Sub Sport News:FOUNTAIN GATE v
BUCKLEY RIDGES
A typically stingy bowling display by Fountain Gate over Buckley Ridges has awarded the Gators a 67-run win – their third win of the year. Arguably the hottest bowling line-up in Turf Two, Fountain Gate restricted Buckley Ridges to just 82 – the third time in four games the Gators have kept an opposing team to fewer than 100 runs.
While the Gator bats notched up a competitive total of 8/139, it was the economical Dale Jose (3/24) and Bryan Guthrie (2/6) who did the damage.
@BT Sub Sport News:ST MARY’S v NARRE NORTH
Solid starts by most of Narre North’s top order paved the way for a 77-run win over St Mary’s at Carroll Reserve.
Led by Scott Brandon (68), Narre North’s top four bats accounted for 150 runs.
Set the daunting task of chasing 6/187, St Mary’s last eight bats fell for 61 runs before being bowled for 110.
@BT Sub Sport News:SPRINGVALE SOUTH v CRANBOURNE
Over the other side of town at Alex Nelson Reserve, Cranbourne was putting on a show of its own, making 7/195 with the bat before holding off Springvale South to clinch a 15-run win.
Cranbourne’s Ross Woodall (71) finally broke through for a 50 after looking dangerous all year while Matthew Darvell (51) also added to the highlights package.
A valiant fight-back by the Bloods nearly resulted in a memorable comeback, but two timely wickets by Eagles’ Rob Cleland (2/25) dashed any of those hopes.
