Newly promoted Berwick number-three batsman Gavin Wills made a solid 47 against Narre Warren on Saturday. Picture: Stewart Chambers. BERWICK’S turf-one team enjoyed a good win on Saturday and cemented its spot in the top four when its batting line-up ran down the 222 set by Narre Warren the previous week.
Justin Stanton and Steve Carr made an excellent start, moving the score to 44 in the 13th over before Carr was caught for 25.
Gavin Wills was promoted to number-three and joined Stanton in a 91-run partnership that set the Bears up for the win.
Wills looked set to bring up a half century, but was bowled on 47 before the tea break.
At 2/135 Berwick still had a job to do and Dave Hampton took over the support role as Stanton started to score freely after passing 50 and reached 83 before being unfortunately run out.
With 26 overs remaining Hampton carried Berwick across the line – his eighth boundary was a huge six that brought up his half century before going out for 53.
Chris Underwood kept the crowd entertained with a swashbuckling 61 off 43 balls, thumping nine fours and two sixes on the large Sweeney reserve.
TURF TWO
It was an appalling display of batting by Berwick in its attempt to chase down 181 set by the Southern Pirates.
Resuming at 0/3 it made a disastrous start when Brendan Lloyd had his off stump knocked back.
Sam Curtis and Luke Reddie went cheaply to make it 3/25.
Things went from bad to worse for the Bears, with wickets falling regularly and Berwick was bundled out for 65.
Given the opportunity to bat again, Berwick made a better showing, but still managed to loose eight wickets.
Shaun Haberfield showed promise with an entertaining 44 including two towering sixes over midwicket, but it was Sean Gramc who made the most of the second chance with a sparkling 59, hitting six fours and three sixes.
Berwick finished on 8/167, but it was all too late with the game decided on the dismal first hit.
TURF FOUR
The batting woes continued with Berwick going down to Maranatha Methodist.
Set just 104 for victory and resuming at 1/30, Berwick was looking the goods when Brad Eagleton (18) and Simon Curtis helped the score along to 51 before Curtis became the second victim for 11.
This sparked a batting collapse for the visitors who lost eight wickets for 12 to loose any chance of what seemed a likely win.
Two run outs and some undisciplined batting saw the game slide away from Berwick’s grasp, only a 15-run partnership between Wayne Viney and Trev McGeachin offering any resistance as Berwick slumped to be all out for 78.
B GRADE
Chasing 185 for victory against Narre Warren at Edwin Flack reserve, Berwick made a less than ideal start losing some early wickets that set the scene for the rest of the day.
Andrew Moore tried hard to get Berwick out of trouble and his 45-run partnership with Damien Quinlan put Berwick back into the game.
However when Moore was out for 18 trying to up the scoring rate Berwick had only three wickets left and far too many runs to get.
Berwick was all out for 130.
C GRADE
Defending 143 against Lyndale, Berwick bowlers Daz Yadav and Kyle Wills guided the Bears to a good win.
The pair bowled 43 of the 46 overs between them and had some brilliant backing from their teammates in the field, four great catches making the difference in the end.
Yadav was unplayable, capturing the first five wickets – three to lbw’s.
Wills applied pressure from the other end and Lyndale was in trouble at 5/58.
He got two of the next three, with Theo Kasapis taking a catch in the infield and Ray Henry one with the gloves.
His six wickets soon became seven, an awesome spell netting him 7/44 and getting the points for the Bears.
Wills played second fiddle with 3/44 off 20.
D GRADE
With 170 on the board and Fountain Gate in early trouble at 3/14, Berwick was hopeful of first-innings points, but was thrilled to take home an outright.
Will Chapman was the star with the ball in the first innings, taking 6/21, Brenton Thorpe holding three catches behind the stumps.
Steve Carle took 2/22 and Andrew Jenner 1/2 as Berwick were far too strong all around, Fountain Gate all out for 52.
Berwick batted again and knocked up a quick 80 for the loss of three wickets in just 14 overs. Brenton Thorpe hit 27 and Geoff Willcock was 42 not out with Berwick declaring its innings closed, a lead of 148.
The wickets were shared around in the second innings. Carle managed one more and Dave Dalzotto and Rod Pettitt both got two, but it was Jenner who got three wickets to make it four for the match.
E GRADE
Chasing 140 Berwick gave it all it had against Lyndale, but fell agonisingly short.
Simon Craig, opening the batting, hit 17 and Dave Ramsay got 14 and at 7/72 and 8/80 Berwick didn’t look like getting close.
However some great efforts from the lower order gave it a chance, Greg Ashcroft with 42 and Matt van Heswyk 22 as Berwick lost its final wicket just nine runs short.
They had a good stint in the field and were able to share the bowling around as they dismissed Lyndale for 120. Xavier Gargarin got 3/12, J. Holden 2/27, T Newnham 2/20 and Marty Allan 1/11.
CLUB NOTES
The club will host a music trivia/auction night at Melaleuca Lodge this Saturday night in conjunction with the junior teams.
Contact Justin Stanton at the club as places are going fast and the club is looking for a donations of items for the auction.
Sean Gramc was congratulated on his selection in the DDCA under-21 side.
