THE Berwick juggernaut gathers speed with the first XI pulling off an emphatic win at the hands of St Mary’s, who continue to battle relegation in Turf One.
The win was piloted by English import Alex Roberts, who came to the crease with Berwick in trouble at 2/42 chasing 200 off 66 overs.
Roberts plundered the St Mary’s bowlers to all parts of Arch Brown Oval in what was considered by some longterm Berwick supporters, including life member Adrian Funston, to be the finest knock seen at the club in recent history.
Funston, witness to the clinical display from the technically perfect English batsman, said the innings was “as close to perfection as I have seen in a lifetime of watching the Berwick Cricket Club”.
Roberts’ 132 came off 143 balls and rocketed Berwick to 3/215 with the game wrapped up shortly after tea.
He smashed 19 fours and four sixes. His chanceless innings brought about his maiden Australian century in a sparkling first year the club.
Middle order veteran Gavan Wills also hit his first century of the season after four earlier halfcenturies.
Wills’ 100 came off 135 balls, with 14 fours spread throughout a controlled innings.
Wills finished unconquered on 110 and received a standing ovation from club mates, opposition players and supporters as Berwick’s innings ended on 4/321.
Dave Hampton made 31 and Ash Henry 17 not out as the Bears secured their stranglehold on the league’s top grade.
TURF TWO
A disastrous start to its pursuit of Fountain Gate’s 217 put Berwick behind with the scoreboard 4/28 after 11 overs.
Matt Lloyd and James Davies added 58 for the fifth wicket, in full command of the testing situation.
Lloyd, backing up after a second innings 100 last game, was on 30 when he was caught with the score on 5/38.
Davies went for 37, and at 6/94 it seemed as though Berwick had let a golden opportunity slip against thirdplaced Fountain Gate.
Marty McGauran had moderate success with 14, but it was the Berwick cubs who offered lastminute encouragement.
Josh Holden looked at home playing his first game in the second XI, his technique holding him in good stead against a quality attack.
Holden top scored with 38, the Bears holding some hope of a lastgasp win.
When Holden went with the score on 167, Michael Wallace added 14 before Berwick was all out for 178.
Wallace was playing perhaps his final game for Berwick for some time, with an invitation to play the remaining game of the season for Premier League team St Kilda.
A GRADE
Berwick was keen to assert its authority in reply to secondplaced Hallam’s 209.
The Bears never looked troubled with the stifling heat and favourable ground conditions assisting their effortless run chase.
Openers Brad Eagleton and Sam Curtis allowed the Hallam bowlers zero opportunities as the score progressed to 119 before the loss of the first wicket.
Curtis moved to a steady halfcentury before hitting a succession of boundaries to move into the 80s.
His 14 fours depleted the Hallam attack, and his first rash shot brought his downfall on 82.
Eagleton was resilient in the heat, pacing his way to 50 with ones and twos and carrying Berwick across the line with the fall of just one wicket.
He carried his bat throughout the faultless Berwick innings and was supported by Adam Kruger, who hit an unbeaten halfcentury.
Kruger relished the quality bowling to crunch nine boundaries and put beyond doubt the ascendancy of the Bears third XI.
The team sits two games clear on top of the ladder with a rematch against Hallam likely in the final.
B GRADE
Set 201 for victory against Springvale South, Berwick needed only 46 overs to knock off the required runs after resuming at 1/44.
Mark Quinlan looked set for a 50 before his innings came unstuck on 39, and teammate Rob Witt soldiered on as Berwick made inroads on this gettable total.
The Bears added 29 for the third wicket before losing three quick wickets.
Witt eased the anxious moments as he cruised into the 70s, while Wayne Viney knocked up 19 as Berwick rounded out yet another win.
Witt remained not out on 78 in his finest hit of the year.
C GRADE
Berwick had little trouble surpassing Doveton North’s 227 with inform batsman Geoff Wilcock passing 100 for the second time this season.
Mark Angelone put together a handy 37 and Will Chapman 35. Andy Peters looked dangerous before he was stumped for 17.
The real star was Wilcock, who felt obliged to follow the recent century from son James in the under 15s with a 100 of his own.
He battered the ball to all parts before he was out on 105.
Wilcock will be crucial part of the side should Berwick continue its recent run of form and pinch a spot in the final four. The team finished on 6/247.
D GRADE
Chasing one of its smallest targets of the season, Berwick fell agonisingly short of the 126 set by Narre Warren.
Resuming at 6/46 and in real trouble, Berwick squirmed their way to safety thanks mainly to a fearless 44 from Lachlan Stone.
Rod Martinez chimed in with 21 to give Berwick a sniff of victory after it crashed to 9/65. Berwick lost its last wicket just 6 runs short.
TWENTY/20
Berwick made its first inclusion to the trophy cabinet this season after winning the inaugural DDCA Twenty/20 competition.
In a thrilling final, Berwick skipper Alex Roberts posted his second century in successive days.
He was effortless in a dazzling 100 that helped Berwick build a competitive total of 181.
Springvale South looked comfortable in reply, but despite four dropped catches, Berwick bowled its way back into the game with tidy work from James Wilcock and Matt Crosby and yet another caught and bowled from leg spinner Ash Henry.
