By Russell Bennett
IT WAS the tale of the wagging tail on the first day’s play between Heinz Southern Districts and Hallam Kalora Park at Reedy Reserve.
Hallam won the toss and sent HSD in and it wasn’t long before they had the first breakthrough when opener Adam Semmens was caught for 16. A steady stream of wickets followed as HSD stumbled to 6/69.
But some lower-order counterpunching from number seven Trevor Davies (57), Paul Stockdale (29) and wicketkeeper Brodie Yapp (25) helped mount a defendable total. William Whyte (3/28) and Cory Booth (3/21) were the pick of the Hallam bowlers.
@BT Sub Sport News:DOVETON v DANDENONG WEST
Doveton’s irresistible form continued against Dandenong West, winning the toss and racking up a massive first innings score.
Captain Ryan Hendy combined with Jason Arnberger on a run-scoring spree as they both pushed toward centuries. Hendy (103) was clean-bowled shortly after his milestone, while Arnberger (97) was run out just three runs shy.
On a tough day for the Dandenong West bowling attack, Peter Atkinson and Nathan Goodes toiled hard for two wickets apiece.
@BT Sub Sport News:NARRE WARREN v BERWICK
Not to be outdone by Doveton’s efforts, Berwick’s batsmen also feasted in glorious Saturday sunshine. Berwick won the toss and chose to bat first against Narre Warren at Sweeney Reserve. The side lost its first two wickets early but a superb century from Gavan Wills (124) and stellar supporting knocks by Brad Francis (45) and Ashley Henry (41) helped pushed the total beyond 300 after 80 overs.
TURF TWO
@BT Sub Sport News:NARRE SOUTH v LYNDALE
A sparkling Ashan Wijayakumara half-century (60 not out) helped Narre South to a competitive 8/251 on day one of their game against Lyndale. Narre received an even contribution throughout its line-up with four 30-plus scores but Lyndale’s Sanjeewa De Silva’s 3/35 helped keep them honest.
@BT Sub Sport News:CRANBOURNE v FOUNTAIN GATE
Cranbourne won the toss and chose to bat first against Fountain Gate. After losing their first two wickets early, they steadied and later put their feet on the accelerator to reach 244, thanks to half-centuries from Jordan Cleland (67) and Scott Eastwood (52).
Fountain Gate’s Bryan Guthrie put in a Herculean effort with the ball, taking 3/70 from 24 overs. Tim McLaren (3/58) and Matthew Maxwell (2/29) also got among the wickets. Fountain Gate’s reply got off to a nightmare start with both openers out for ducks.
At stumps on day one, the side sits on a precarious 2/1.
@BT Sub Sport News:SILVERTON v BUCKLEY RIDGES
Buckley Ridges won the toss and sent Silverton in at Fotheringham Reserve. The decision proved to be the correct one as the home side was skittled for just 126.
Skipper Dean Jones (33) was the innings’ top scorer with a fighting knock but Buckley Ridges’ Richard Hope stole the show with a superb 5/41 from his 20 overs.
The visitors will resume on day two at 1/49 with Hope (1) the batsman dismissed.
@BT Sub Sport News:ST MARY’S v ST BRIGID’S/ST LOUIS
In a titanic battle of the saints, St Mary’s won the toss and batted at Carroll Reserve. They were in trouble early, losing the wickets of opener Troy Cashman and Daniel Davis in quick succession but captain Nick McKay (65) mounted a rearguard fightback. St Mary’s made it to 188 before finally being dismissed in the 77th over.
Patrick Jamieson was the pick of the St Brigid’s bowlers with 3/29.
The visitors are off to a steady start in their reply, sitting on 0/14 at stumps.
@BT Sub Sport News:SOUTHERN PIRATES v COOMOORA
A century opening stand between Coomoora openers Luke Wenke (76) and Andrew O’Meara (66) helped set up a dominant first day’s play against the Southern Pirates.
Liam Coates (71) also got in on the half-century act. David Nutting (99 not out) completed the batting day out but fell heartbreakingly short of a century as the overs expired.
Pirate Clint McAndrew led the bowling charge with 2/51 but Coomoora has the game firmly within its grasp at 4/349.
@BT Sub Sport News:SPRINGVALE SOUTH v NARRE NORTH
The pattern of imposing first innings totals in round 4 continued in Springvale South’s clash with Narre North. Springvale batted first and lost its first two wickets with just 22 runs on the board, but a series of big partnerships throughout the remainder of the innings helped the side to a healthy total.
Stephen Hennessy (71) and Andrew McMannis (50) were the stand-outs with sparkling half-centuries.
Ben Doran, Stephen Ryan and Shane Luck were Narre North’s main strike bowlers with three wickets apiece.
