FIVE dropped chances and two failed stumpings against Parkfield on Saturday haunted Berwick’s turfone side that now faces a 260 run chase this week and its toughest task for victory this season.
The Bears will need solid contributions from all of their highperforming stars in this final game of the homeandaway season.
Signs were good for the Bears with four wickets and 36 runs for Parkfield with opening bowlers Will Carr and Simon Cornell firing.
Cornell, back from injury, in his first spell of six overs netted 2/9. Carr’s pace led to an excellent runout by Rowan Nancarrow.
Berwick was unable to get a breakthrough in the session after drinks and went to lunch 4/96.
Jarrod Goodes, seemed to be showing no effect of a spell away from the game, his five overs comprising one wicket, thanks to a clean catch from Steve Carr with the gloves.
Parkfield went deep into the 69th over before losing the fifth wicket. It took Ash Henry 17 overs to claim his first victim despite numerous lbw appeals, plays and misses.
Brendan Lloyd toiled away and after twelve overs got his reward when Goodes held onto a catch to make it 5/191 with 11 overs remaining.
Henry got his second of the day to finish with 2/70 and Carr’s fourth spell was fruitless to give him figures of 16 overs 0/52.
Parkfield was 7/259 at the close of play.
TURF TWO
Ninthplaced Berwick met second last Lyndale at Arch brown reserve and the Bears were keen to make amends for some recent poor batting performances with a bolstered attack.
They made an encouraging start through openers Justin Stanton and Brad Molineux, the pair keen to impress after relegation from the first XI in recent weeks.
Molineux looked comfortable when on 35 was caught with the score 1/61 after 27 overs.
Experienced skipper Rob Chilver didn’t take much time to settle, compiling 29 in a 53run secondwicket stand that put Berwick in the box seat.
However, a lapse in concentration undid the good work of the top order.
Stanton, after reaching his first halfcentury of the season, was run out for 60 in a mix up with James Davies.
Davies attempted to make amends, but went on 28 and Berwick was 6/169.
Had it not been for a courageous 17 from junior Josh Holden in his second senior game on turf and 22 from Paul Gramc, Berwick’s early optimism could have suddenly turned sour.
Eventually it eked out 210 before Gramc and Matt Lloyd fired four lightning overs at the Lyndale opening batsmen.
Their efforts paid off with two wickets to Gramc putting the Bears in a position to win their final game.
A GRADE
Although Maranatha Methodist was on the bottom with only one win, it still provided top side Berwick with a tough contest.
Jason Taylor (7 overs 0/3), James Smith (8 overs 0/5) and Dave Dalzotto (9 overs 0/13) all bowled consistently, but without the penetration they will need come finals time and Berwick went wicketless for the first 32 overs.
It wasn’t until shortly before lunch that parttime spinner Wayne Margitich made the first breakthrough, backing it up with a second one and being joined by frontline spinner Michael Dalzotto to go into the break at 3/78.
Sam Curtis took his second catch and then completed a runout and Margetich struck again as the wheels fell off Maranatha’s innings.
Nick Shannon took one wicket from eight overs and Adam Kruger claimed the last three as Berwick bundled the Lions out for 140.
Left 11 overs to bat, Berwick was 0/23 at the close of play with Curtis and Brad Eagleton both notout 11.
B GRADE
Up against top side Lynbrook, the Berwick was outmatched and outclassed at Edwin Flack, managing just 97.
Rob Witt fought hard for 25 and Shaun Grant a rugged 27.
Captain Ryan Smart contributed a valuable 13 at the bottom of the order and Steve Carle showed that he is more than just a gritty bowler, with 15 to add to his side’s total.
With 29 overs remaining to salvage some respect, the Bears could manage just one wicket, Lynbrook running away with everything bar the six points after day one, 1/77 the score.
Carle was the wicket taker,
C GRADE
Requiring a win to secure its topfour spot, Berwick took no prisoners as it demolished St Brigid’s/St Louis for 138.
Dean Holden and Will Chapman shared the first three before a 39run fourthwicket partnership evened the equation at 4/77.
However, the Saints lost three wickets for 11 runs with Jeremy Lim tempting the Saint’s batsmen before Simon Craig stepped in with a devastating spell for four wickets that brought an end to the innings.
Craig spun a web to skittle the Saints, giving Berwick a head start on the finals outlook.
The Bears lost opener Andy Young for a duck before stabilising to finish at 1/28.
D GRADE
Berwick is an outside chance of snapping up its third win of the season after a stirring innings led by juniors Tom van Rijn, Jake Jamieson and Michael Caldwell.
Van Rijn clubbed 26 and Jamieson went one better with 27 while the everimproving Caldwell helped Berwick to 202, thanks mainly to his fine knock of 43.
The Bears’ bowlers followed suit and again it was Caldwell who was the star with two wickets, Jim Koulos also getting one to put them in a strong position at 3/25.
