BERWICK Cricket Club’s turfone side ended the homeandaway season on a high with a thrilling win against finals’ hopefuls Parkfield at Dunblane Rd on Saturday, thanks to a brilliant 72 by bowler Brendan Lloyd.
It started badly for Berwick as it experienced its only batting collapse for the season – plummeting to 6/63 in just 26 overs.
Alex Roberts (22) was the only dismissed batsmen to trouble the scorers as the top order failed as a group.
Fortunately Gavan Wills, the only remaining batsman of note, was resilient and staved off repeated attacks with a mixture of rocksolid defence and mild attack.
The Bears received a lesser contribution from Rowan Nancarrow (14) who helped add 19 for the seventh wicket just after the tea break, but when he was removed with the score 7/82, the Bears still had a mountain of work to do to reel in Parkfield’s total of 259.
Enter Brendan Lloyd.
The diminutive bowler has shown glimpses of batting brilliance in the past, but none with the dominance and command shown during his sparkling knock of 72 on this occasion.
Wills took a back step as Lloyd piloted a matchwinning 138run eighthwicket stand.
Lloyd’s 86 ball innings was dotted with 11 fours to all parts of the ground, Wills’ a more composed hand that was played out over 205 deliveries.
Both batsmen brought up their half century before Lloyd was sent on his way.
Jarrod Goodes then pieced together a very handy 23 off just 25 balls as the likelihood of a remarkable comefrombehind victory grew.
Just as he seemed capable of following up on Lloyd’s brilliance, Goodes holed out in the deep giving Parkfield one final opening.
However number 11 Will Carr became the third tailender to show up his higher placed teammates, with 13 not out as Berwick snatched victory.
Wills remained unconquered with a crucial 89 as the Bears finished off the season two and a half games clear on top, the honour of hosting a home final against North Dandenong their reward.
TURF TWO
With 210 on the board and already two wickets in the bag the Bears were confident of finishing the season on a positive note.
They had to work their fingers to the bone to secure a win, their unique mixture of bowling talent getting the job done.
Paul Gramc put his hand up for a promotion with 13 excellent overs that netted him 3/48.
James Davies took the honours though with an initial spell of seven overs filled with variety and pace, sinking Lyndale to 6/114.
Davies took two wickets before handing the reigns to Aidan Mills (0/28) and Matt Crosby (0/21) who both bowled without luck, as did Brad Molyneux.
Justin Stanton was thrown the ball with immediate success, striking twice inside six entertaining overs and Davies returned to strike another blow to crumble Lyndale’s hope with one wicket remaining and the score on 193.
Davies wasted little time capturing the last wicket and Berwick took home the points, captain Rob Chilver happy with the win and excited by some encouraging signs shown by Berwick’s young cubs.
A GRADE
It was a run feast for the Bears at the hands of lastplaced Maranatha that capitulated under the constant assault of a primed Berwick outfit.
Resuming at 0/23 in reply to the Lions 140, openers Sam Curtis and Brad Eagleton wasted little time in putting the result beyond doubt with a 124run opening stand.
Curtis did the majority of the early scoring, blasting 12 fours and two sixes in his rapid score of 88.
Eagleton quickened his approach and brought up his second consecutive half century before he was dismissed for 52.
Brad James wasn’t about to rest on his laurels with finals looming and took no prisoners as the attack wearied, pounding 17 fours and two sixes to notch his first century in what has been an outstandingly consistent season for the skipper.
Having relished the match practice enough, James retired with an imposing 127 to his name and already 330 on the Berwick scoreboard.
Wayne Margitich didn’t waste his opportunities and he worked his way up to 50 also as the boundaries flowed thick and fast for the Bears.
Margitich was eventually out for 54, giving Matt Olver a chance, crunching 17 fours on the lighteningfast outfield.
With Berwick making light work of the understrength Maranatha attack and the score constantly ticking over, Michael Dalzotto joined the fray, helping himself to 21.
James Smith and Adam Kruger were each removed inside the teens, Berwick showing some mercy by calling it quits seven wickets down with a massive 477 runs on the board.
That capped off an undefeated season, with its rightful top spot to defend with its first final against Narre Warren this week.
B GRADE
Defending just 97 and with Lynbrook resuming on 1/77, Berwick had little to play for, except for the fact that it will now meet this week’s opponents in the first final this week.
Signs are not encouraging with Lynbrook plundering the Berwick bowlers to all parts of Edwin Flack reserve.
The Bears went wicketless on day two as the Lynbrook’s numberone batsman made 122 and his counterpart at number three amassing a double century.
Berwick will be encouraged by the fact that it beat their finals opponents earlier in the season and will be strengthened by two players likely to come down from the thirds.
C GRADE
Chasing 139 and resuming at 2/30 Berwick finetuned its batting in preparation for its upcoming finals’ appearance with all batsmen getting some time at the crease.
Geoff Willcock continued a brilliant season, smacking seven fours and three big sixes in his innings of 63.
Mark Angelone looked set for the business end of the season with 24 and Simon Craig delivered 19.
Jeremy Lim staked his claim on a finals’ spot with 12 and Brian Ornsby hit 35 in quick time as Berwick finished on 207 with a game against North Dandenong ahead this week.
D GRADE
Berwick finished the season in stunning fashion with its third win of the season.
Defending 202 and with Buckley Ridges starting on 3/25 the Berwick bowlers teamed together to get the job done.
Jake Jamieson backed up his efforts with the bat to claim two wickets, as did fellow underage player Lachlan Stone.
Michael Caldwell got three wickets and the experienced pair of Neville Stone and Jim Koulos each took one as Berwick made it four from six wins at the club.
FINALS VENUES
Berwick Cricket Club has four teams, plus three junior sides in the finals.
Turf one will host a home final at Arch Brown reserve, A grade will attempt to continue its undefeated streak at Sweeney reserve, Bgrade will take on Lynbrook at Pargeter Tierney and Cgrade will meet North Dandenong at Edinburgh reserve.
The under17s also made the finals as did the under 15 (2) and under13 (3) teams with opponents still to be announced.
