BERWICK’S turfone team, despite a late start, managed to pass Cranbourne’s firstinnings total of 125 for a good win on Saturday.
The Bears were in a strong position to wrap up their second win and keep their perfect record in tact, but overnight rain had effected the centre wicket square.
Play started after a few hours of wind helped dry the wet areas.
Resuming at 1/61 in reply to Cranbourne’s 125, Steve Carr and Gavin Wills gave Berwick a fright when Carr went with just three runs added.
When Dave Hampton was plum lbw for a duck, Cranbourne was confident until 19 from Alex Roberts helped steady the ship.
The fourth wicket fell for 88, and with Roberts gone Ash Henry joined Wills, the pair comfortably took Berwick across the line. Wills hit 61 while Henry remained not out on 36.
TURF TWO
Berwick met Doveton North at home in a 40over match after last week was washed out.
The Bears won the toss and batted, openers Wayne Margitich and Brad Molineux scored a 41run firstwicket partnership when Margitich was run out for 22.
That brought Hayden Stanton to the crease and the pair combined for a memorable 117run stand.
Molineux smashed ten fours and one towering six in an innings that saw him unconquered on 109.
Stanton played second fiddle with five fours and two sixes, bringing up his half century before he lost his wicket with Berwick dominating at 2/158 and the Bears’ innings ended on 231.
Set an almost insurmountable task, Doveton North never really threatened to challenge the large total and was bundled out for 89 in another convincing win for Berwick.
A GRADE
Chasing 153 after a solid allaround bowling performance the previous week, the Berwick top order fell like a pack of cards after Matt Quinlan and Sam Curtis put on 23 for the first wicket. The next four wickets fell for just eight runs, Berwick’s best five bats in the sheds with the total 31.
Young gun James Wilcock and the experienced Matt Crosby then paired together for a matchwinning 54runs.
Wilcock handled the fast bowlers with ease before he advanced to the spinner and was stumped for 25.
Crosby soldiered on with Leigh Otten and took an attacking approach, lofting the ball regularly over the infield as he charged up to and beyond the 50 mark.
Crosby brought up the winning runs for the Bears and eyed off a maiden century. Otten was a pillar of strength with 34 in the 117run partnership, but it was Crosby who was the star, coming close to a century when he was caught in the deep for 96. After a disastrous start, Berwick had closed out a hardfought win.
B GRADE
Berwick carried a one run firstinnings lead into the second week of its contest with St Brigid’s/St Louis and with three wickets remaining added a further 88 runs to the total, thanks 23 from Trevor McGeachin and 44 from Matt Lloyd.
With 50 overs still remaining, the Bears went for outright points and made a good start when Steve Carle added to his eight wickets last week to make it 1/11. Damien Quinlan bowled with swing and bounce, clasping onto a caughtandbowled and Carle struck again to make it ten for the match.
Lloyd joined the party and Quinlan required no assistance for the second time, Berwick was in control with five wickets to get and still 55 runs ahead.
Lloyd was far too good with the ball and helped himself to two more wickets and Carle bowled his way to number 11 and at 7/81, it looked as if the Bears may not need to bat again until a ninth wicket added 42. All out for 148, the Saints had set Berwick 59 runs off the remaining ten overs.
Lloyd bashed 26 in quick time, but the tumble of wickets cost Berwick.
With eight runs required off the last over for maximum points, the Bears could manage just seven, agonisingly close to their ultimate goal.
C GRADE
At 1/70 in reply to Narre Warren North’s 144, Berwick never looked threatened. The accomplished pair of Geoff Wilcock and Andy Peters were at the crease and they all but secured the win, nudging the total to 131.
Peters amassed 78 before he was caught.
Willcock brought up his half century, bashing 12 fours and a six and forming some handy partnerships with Josh Holden (20) and Nigel Rabot (not out seven) before falling for 66.
Will Chapman was notout 15 when both sides politely agreed on an early finish, Berwick taking the points.
D GRADE
The Bears were fighting an uphill battle already 14 runs in arrears and with three Endeavour Hills wickets intact, but wiped them out without further damage, eventually forging a 64run lead.
Brothers Michael and Dave Caldwell took three and four wickets a piece.
Greg Ashcroft (22) stood tall in among a withering Berwick batting attack that could only muster 77 second time around, leaving the opposition just 14 runs for full points, a task it completed just one wicket down.
Twenty/20
Berwick hosted one of four doubleheaders in the inaugural DDCA Twenty/20 competition, taking on Narre Warren with a near fullstrength attack. A big crowd was in attendance for this bumper clash, plenty of entertainment coming from Dave Hampton (38) off just 33 balls and Alex Roberts (27) in Berwick’s total of 117.
Narre Warren looked in control at 3/64 after 11, before the wheels came off thanks mainly to a superb spell of bowling form Ash Henry (4/14) and Berwick ran away winners, going through to the second round.
In the second game, Buckley Ridges comfortably disposed of Hampton Park.
Berwick will meet Noble Park on Tuesday week at Arch Brown in a separate Victorian cricket Twenty/20 competition, representing the DDCA as last year’s champions.
