BERWICK’S turf-one side failed to overhaul Buckley Ridges, falling 37 runs short in a one-day game on Saturday.
After the cancellation of scores from a rain-marred first week, the players enjoyed ideal conditions at Arch Brown Reserve.
Buckley Ridges won the toss and made a shaky start when Dave Hampton claimed a wicket in his first over and then followed up with another to make it 2/6.
Simon Cornell had immediate success, when Steve Carr took the third of his four catches behind the stumps, to have Buckley Ridges at 3/21 after 11 overs.
The Bears then allowed the momentum to swing back Buckley’s way with a 139-run fourth-wicket partnership, before Brad Molineux grabbed three wickets to stem the flow.
However Berwick had thrown a brilliant start away, allowing Buckley Ridges to progress from 3/66 after 20 overs, to 9/209 after its full allotment of 40.
The total wasn’t out of reach for the Bears, but when Justin Stanton fell, it was a less than ideal start.
With Steve Carr and Dave Hampton at the crease and the score on 3/57 at the halfway point, Berwick was fighting an uphill battle.
Carr fell for 29 and Hampton for nine leaving Brad Molineux and Gavin Wills a massive task. They did all within their powers and with five wickets in hand they required a further 70 off seven overs, but it was all too much.
Wills managed a fighting 50 and Molineux a solid 25, Berwick finishing on 9/172.
TURF TWO
Berwick launched an assault on Lyndale that was led by a brilliant innings of 97 from Sean Gramc.
Shaun Haberfield made 19 and looked set to show the way until he was caught and Rob Witt got settled before being dismissed for 14.
However, it was Gramc who single handedly won the battle for Berwick in his first season at the club, knocking eight fours and five sixes.
Berwick finished with 174.
The bowling was loose early with Lyndale racing to 1/57.
Paul Gramc with an excellent yorker dismissed the opener and got Berwick started as Lyndale fell to 6/77 in the next eight overs.
Gramc finished with 2/34 and got excellent support from Matt Crosby who claimed three wickets including a sensational caught behind from Haberfield up to the stumps.
Jarrod Goodes returned for his second spell and made short work of the tail end dismissing Lyndale for 123, making it two wins on the trot for Berwick.
TURF FOUR
An excellent win by Berwick against Springvale.
Marty McGauran dominated the early proceedings with 22 of a 29-run opening partnership with Wayne Margitich, 27, including four fours.
Andrew Mazzagatti returned to form with 50 and Adam Kruger and Brad Eagleton did some hard hitting in the latter stages.
Kruger finished with 34 and Eagleton 27.
Berwick had a handy total of 214, thanks to the top and middle-order batsmen.
The Springvale batsmen offered little resistance.
Ben Adams was great with the new ball with 2/13, Wayne Viney 1/7 and Ian Davis 1/11.
Berwick was in control at 3/15, but the introduction of Kruger was the match winner.
An amazing spell of 16 balls saw him finish with the unbelievable figures of 5/1, including a hat-trick.
The only run came from a wide with the Springvale batsmen completely mesmerised by his off-spinners.
B GRADE
Berwick was outmatched in all departments by a much stronger Lynbrook first XI.
The bowlers struggled to get the early breakthrough, Adam Baumgarder and Joel Funston both battling hard without luck.
Matt O’Donoghue got 1/18 and Lee Otten toiled hard for 0/33.
Michael Dalzotto got two wickets to keep Berwick in the game, restricting Lynbrook to 183 off its 40 overs.
It was too much for the batting line-up with a handful of players getting a start, but unable to go on with it.
Before Brad James was out for 23, Berwick looked a chance, but the total was too great.
Andy Peters knocked up 20, Dalzotto finished not out on 18 and Funston was out for 18.
Berwick was all out for 125.
C GRADE
The Berwick bowlers put in a solid performance against Hallam, restricting it to 144.
Daz Yadav got 2/25 with the new ball and Kyle Wills bowled well to finish with 1/17 off eight.
Aidan Harold was also proficient 2/23 off eight and Ryan Smart claimed two and Ray Henry and Andrew Jenner got one each.
The Bears made a terrible start to their run chase loosing the first two wickets for just one run, but a handy 20 from Damien Quinlan and 23 to Smart, helped steady the ship.
However the runs came in dribs and drabs and wickets fell regularly with Berwick dismissed for 112, the loss not helping its push to make the finals.
D GRADE
An excellent win for the Bears keeps them in a strong position on the ladder.
Will Chapman continued his consistent season with 2/17 and Kev Phillips, Simon Carle, Dave Caldwell and James Wilcock all got one a piece.
Dale Thomas was the shining light with the ball, taking three wickets from his five overs.
Berwick was set 154 for victory by Hallam.
Thomas backed up his great work with the ball with an unbeaten 56 that got Berwick across the line without the loss of a wicket.
Brenton Thorpe piled on the runs, 71 in all as the pair made it look all too easy, Berwick cantering to a win with ten overs to spare.
E GRADE
Another honourable effort by Berwick with a loss to Cranbourne in this one-day clash.
Jim Koulos got two wickets, as did Michael Caldwell, while Josh Holden and Nicholas Shannon each got one.
Berwick kept Cranbourne to 167 off its 36 overs with some great pressure in the field.
Holden made 35 and F. D’Agostino 24.
Further support came from Simon Craig 13 and Greg Ashcroft 14. Berwick finished on 7/125.
