BERWICK’S turfone side is locked in a tight struggle against lowly St Mary’s after the Saints produced a fighting batting display on Saturday.
The two met at the Arch Brown Reserve with the Saints attempting to fight off relegation after being a league powerhouse over the past two decades.
The Saints took the upper hand early, despite a brief rain delay that reduced the day’s play to 66 overs.
It was indifferent start with the Saints loosing their first wicket with a runout thanks to the Bears Rowan Nancarrow to make it 1/18 after nine.
The next 35 overs belonged to St Mary’s with the Berwick bowlers unable to topple the talented top order led by champion opener Troy Cashman’s half century.
The Saints added 61 for the second and third wickets to be 3/140 with 20 overs remaining.
Berwick fought back and Ash Henry did the majority of the damage, bowling the veteran pair of Cashman (69), followed by exBerwick player Jamie McDonnell.
Moments later he was involved in a runout, putting the game in the balance at 5/150.
Carr returned to take his first wicket and when he struck again six overs later, the Bears were in a strong position at 8/197.
With two wickets in hand and still 14 off their allotted 80 overs still to bat, the Saints could post a competitive total this week and give Berwick a test before the finals.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:TURF TWO
Berwick went toetotoe with an inform Fountain Gate on its home turf with the honours equal by the end of the day.
The early signs were not good with Berwick opening bowlers James Davies and Matt Lloyd unable to make the early breakthrough.
Fountain Gate cruised to 71.
Aidan Mills (1/7 off six) showed he is just as capable with the ball as the bat.
Matt Crosby then took just three overs to capture his first of many scalps.
That opened the floodgates for the Bears who took the next two wickets for just ten runs to get themselves back in the game at 3/84.
Matt Lloyd was introduced to gain further ascendancy for the Bears, taking two of the next three wickets, including that of the dangerous Brad Francis for 41.
However, it was Matt Crosby who ripped the heart out of the Fountain Gate middle order with a bag five wickets.
Crosby’s 5/43 off 15 was the pick of the bowling, helping Berwick to wrap up the innings for an impressive 215 giving it a chance of victory this week.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:A GRADE
All was set for the game of the season with undefeated Berwick hosting secondplaced Hallam, the away side winning the toss and choosing to bat.
The runs were hard to come by with just 22 coming off the first 14 overs thanks to some tight bowing from James Smith and Jason Taylor.
An excellent ball from Smith took the bails and gave the Bears their first wicket.
Andrew Jenner toiled away with a wicket to his credit and Dave Dalzotto added some heat to the bowling attack with one of his own.
A 73run fourth wicket partnership boosted Hallam, but Leigh Otten had other ideas as he took 3/33, putting Berwick back in the game at 6/133.
James Smith took another one and Hallam was 8/174 with five overs remaining.
Adam Kruger took another, but Berwick was unable to claim the last, Hallam finishing 9/209.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:B GRADE
Playing Springvale South, Berwick’s Wayne Viney struck in his second over, then took another to make it 2/29.
The third wicket added 73 before Carle got his first and Damian Quinlan finished with three as Berwick took the upper hand. Ray Henry took three important wickets to bundle Springvale South out for 201.
Berwick batted for 13 overs, loosing Brett Hogan for 14 and is on 1/44 Mark Quinlan 16 and Rob Witt 13.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:C GRADE
Berwick, aiming for a possible fourth side in the top four, played Doveton North.
Will Chapman was restricted to one wicket and fellow veterans Dean Holden and Andy Peters were also unable to get the breakthrough.
Tim Renwick followed his promotion with a helpful 1/33 and the score ticked along 4/196 with Berwick in trouble with 12 overs remaining.
Brian Ornsby’s three wickets went a long to resurrecting Berwick’s game.
Mark Angelone executed two runouts and then bowled well for a wicket.
Jeremy Lim bowled a superb wicket maiden to rip through the tail and have Doveton North out for 227.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:D GRADE
Berwick has an outside chance of its third win after skittling Narre Warren for 126.
Jim Koulas led the way with 2/29 and Neville Stone also got two wickets to see Narre Warren reeling at 6/83.
Dave Caldwell took three more and Andrew Thorpe and Rod Martinez one each.
Unfortunately the batsmen weren’t able to back up the good work of the bowlers as they crumbled to 6/45.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:TWENTY/20
It was an unbelievable game of the shorter version when Berwick met Hallam in the DDCA semifinal.
Berwick was faultless, dismissing Hallam inside 17 overs for 86, Ryan Crawford claiming three wickets as did Ash Henry, including an amazing reflex caughtandbowled.
The batsmen had little trouble knocking off the small target and take themselves into the final against Springvale South at Harold Road this Sunday at 2pm.
