Top: Berwick star Ash Henry in action for the Bears against Narre Warren on Saturday.BERWICK turfone’s Will Carr and Ash Henry with four wickets each demolished Narre Warren on day one of the clash at Arch Brown Reserve on Saturday.
Last season’s premiers once again showed that it is the dominant force of the Dandenong District Cricket Association bowling the Magpies out for 85.
After putting 15 on the board, Narre Warren capitulated with Will Carr showing no mercy for a hapless top order who were clearly short of the required mark.
Carr took the first four wickets, Jarrod Goodes unable to provide with the ball, but pulled in an early contender for catch of the year with a diving onehander at slip off his newball partner’s bowling.
From 4/21 Narre never recovered, suffering a further slump to a disastrous 6/35 when legspin supremo Ash Henry got hold of the pill and worked his magic.
Steve Carr helped himself to a sharp stumping to add to his three catches and Narre Warren fell into the Henry spell, the maestro taking four wickets as Narre toppled all out for 85.
The Berwick top order showed how it is done with 1/90 in reply off the 38 remaining overs, Steve Carr (42) and Gavin Wills (36) both not out with Berwick securing firstinnings points and readying themselves for a second innings assault on a lacklustre Narre Warren attack this week.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz: TURF TWO
After a delayed start due to a hose leakage on the centre wicket square before play, the match between Berwick and Hampton Park was played out in two contrasting halves with the home side taking the upper hand in the early stages.
Despite two early runouts they progressed to 3/94 with Paul Gramc and Jason Taylor doing the majority of the work.
Simon Cornell showed that he had successfully recovered from his earlyseason shoulder injury with an impressive first spell, returning second time around to get Berwick back in the game with three wickets in four overs to finish with 3/32 from 15.
Brendan Lloyd continues to perform on a regular basis, doing the job for his side with three wickets, including two sharpturning ‘offies’ that cannoned through the defence of the Hampton Park batsmen.
The Bears reeled the game back in their favour, getting Hampton Park all out for 161, Matt Lloyd joining his brother with one wicket, leaving a gettable total for Berwick this week.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:A GRADE
Berwick met last year’s Agrade premiers Narre Warren at Edwin Flack and took away the honours on the first day, amassing a strong total of 264 with consummate ease.
Berwick lost an early wicket, but gathered momentum before loosing Sam Curtis on 34, the score 3/57.
Another wicket straight after balanced the ledger, bringing Matthews Crosby and Olver to the crease for a formidable 115run partnership.
Olver (67) was dominant, crushing five fours on the large Berwick home ground and Crosby played his wingman role, helping himself to 63 and allowing the lower order a solid base on which to complete the task. Mark Quinlan (15) and James Smith (12 not out) both did their bit and Michael Dalzotto added salt to the wounds of the Narre Warren bowlers, smacking 34 including five fours.
Berwick is in poll position, but still requires a solid bowling performance this week to ensure a win.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz: B GRADE
The game hangs in the balance in the third game between Berwick and Narre Warren with a number of Bears batsmen getting starts before failing to go on with the job.
Rob Witt made an accomplished 24 and Shaun Grant added to his fine start to the season with 31. Damien Quinlan added 13 and Adrian Mills impressed all in his first senior game with 22 before he was caught out.
Berwick was dismissed for 165, leaving Narre Warren 14 overs that it negotiated with relative ease, finishing on 0/18.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:C GRADE
A comprehensive allaround display by Berwick saw it claim firstinnings points against Maranatha Methodist with openers Nicholas Shannon (1/28) and firstgame player Andrew Rattle (4/9) making light work of the top order.
Matt O’Donoghue slid in with three wickets and Simon Craig’s leg spin brought his side two wickets.
Geoff Wilcock took an amazing six catches, including that of local councillor Rob Wilson and the Bears had bundled the opposition all out for just 72. Their batsmen made a far better fist of things, loosing just three wickets for 110 with the dominant Wilcock remaining not out 38 and Andrew Peters 27, giving them plenty of leeway to push for outright victory this week.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:D GRADE
Berwick was again unable to mount a total in excess of 100, falling just eight short despite 32 from Dave Caldwell.
Lyndale lost three wickets in the process of claiming firstinnings honours. Stephen Tolley continues to show his potential with 2/26 from six and Lyndale finished 3/99 with plenty to be played for this week.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:CLUB NOTES
Berwick hosts subdistrict premiers Noble Park this Tuesday at the magnificent Arch Brown oval in the first of cricket Victoria’s Twenty20 games.
The game will kick off around 5pm with all local cricket lovers encouraged to view this spectacle between two of the states leading sides.
