A CLINICAL display of bowling by Berwick’s turfone side bundled Cranbourne out for a paltry 125 in the Dandenong Cricket Association game on Saturday.
Bears’ captain Will Carr won the toss and sent Cranbourne in on the new Casey Fields oval.
He didn’t mess around with the new ball, taking four balls to remove dangerous Cranbourne opener Brad Angus.
Fiery paceman Jarrod Goodes provided excellent support from the other end.
Goodes bowled three overs for just four runs before being rewarded with a wicketmaiden to break the back of some solid defensive batting.
Carr followed with three consecutive wicket overs, the first in combination with brother Steve behind the stumps to remove Ross Woodall, before claiming another two to have Cranbourne reeling at 5/25.
Cranbourne never recovered and when Carr finished his first spell with 4/21 off seven and Goodes with 1/9 from six, Ash Henry and Alex Roberts took over.
Henry was unplayable on the sticky pitch, beating the bat countless times, while Roberts claimed a victim in his third over. Henry struck soon after and the score was 7/72 at the tea break.
Ryan Crawford joined the party, setting up a catch for Will Carr and Roberts showed he had recovered from a side strain, taking his second to finish with 2/15.
Goodes returned and added another wicket to his collection.
Despite losing Justin Stanton for eight, Berwick steadied to be in a commanding position at 1/61 at the close of play. Steve Carr and Gavin Wills are both 26 not out.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:TURF TWO
The ground staff was unable to cover the Arch Brown wicket before heavy rainfall on Friday and as a consequence could not be protected from Saturday morning showers, leaving it in an unplayable state.
A oneday game will be played this week.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:A GRADE
Skipper Brad James finished the day satisfied with his bold decision to bowl first, his troops doing a fine job of setting up a likely win.
Matt Crosby claimed the first wicket before Cranbourne fought back with a 30run second wicket partnership when Dave Dalzotto teamed up with Adam Kruger to capture the second.
Berwick controlled the session leading up to tea with Crosby soldiering on unrested and Dalzotto finishing his fine 12 overs with 1/16.
Andrew Jenner took three wickets and Crosby was rewarded for his endurance with another two to finish with 3/70 off 23 overs on the trot.
James Wilcock bowled with maturity beyond his 14 years, knocking over the opposition captain’s middle stump and finishing his eightover spell with a wicket maiden and the sensational figures of 2/13.
It was the youngsters who were the stars, Jenner powering through 15 overs unchanged in which he managed three wickets for just 22 runs, Sam Curtis holding onto the third of his catches for the day.
Adam Kruger and Leigh Otten helped clean up the lower order, while keeping the run scoring tight, Berwick eventually dismissing Cranbourne for 152.
At the close of play Berwick was 0/3.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:B GRADE
It was a oneman show when Berwick met St Brigid’s/St Louis with the Bears making short work of the bats, thanks to an awesome solo bowling performance from firebrand quick Steve Carle.
He singlehandedly dismantled the Saints after copping some early stick with 20 runs from his first three overs, bouncing back with eight of the next nine wickets.
Damien Quinlan grabbed one, as did skipper Ryan Smart.
The Saints rallied in the middle stages and were 5/89. Carle thundered in again and the last five wickets fell for just 12 to be all out for 101.
Carle was unstoppable, with five of his eight wickets coming unassisted, his figures of 8/32 an amazing effort.
The Berwick batsmen backed him up, utilising the remaining 37 overs to secure firstinnings points and foundation for an outright win.
Matt Olver plundered 44 including three fours and two sixes and Quinlan hit a quick 22.
Trevor McGeachin and Carle remain not out with Berwick 7/102.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:C GRADE
Berwick put together another fine team showing, setting up what should be a solid win.
Nick Shannon (1/37) bowled well and Will Chapman took three wickets, two thanks to fine catches behind the stumps from Nigel Rabot.
Marty Allan kept the batsmen honest with his leg spin and Stephen Tolley’s seven overs (1/20) helped swing the game in Berwick’s favour.
Narre Warren North was in a strong position at 3/127 before Geoff Willcock claimed the dangerous opener on 40 and then the remaining four wickets as the Narre North lower order crumbled, the last seven falling for 17 runs.
Narre Warren North was all out 144, Willcock with 5/13.
Jack Pickering fell for two but had given excellent support to Andy Peters to help the score along to 41.
Willcock joined Peters at the crease and is on 15 with Peters 45, the Bears 1/70.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:D GRADE
The Bears made the most of their opportunities against Endeavour Hills.
Tim RichardsonCooper made a solid start with 23 before scooping one back to the bowler and Jim Koulas ran himself out on 20.
Michael Caldwell hit 11, as did brother Dave, but Berwick’s wickets fell too regularly, eventually all out for 101.
Despite loosing out on first innings, the game hangs in the balance, with Endeavour Hills 7/115 at the close of play.
Jim Koulas (2/69), Michael Caldwell (2/31) and brother Dave (3/13) and father Alan who took a sensational catch.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:CLUB NOTES
On Sunday, 29 October the club will host a doubleheader 20/20 at Arch Brown as part of the new DDCA competition.
Berwick will meet Narre Warren starting at 11am, followed by Hampton Park v HSD in what should be an entertaining display of the new form of the game.
