Berwick captain David Hampton plays a perfect forward defensive stroke in his matchwinning 64run knock in the weekend’s Turf 1 grand final against Springvale South.IT was a double celebration for Berwick Cricket Club at the weekend with its turfone and Dgrade teams winning premierships.
It was turf one’s first flag in 10 years.
TURF ONE
It was a tough game against the holder of the last two premiership cups, Springvale South.
The Bears took the upper hand after being asked to bowl on a perfectly flat and true track.
Will Carr bowled a thunderous opening spell and Simon Cornell was almost unplayable as the pair beat the bat on numerous occasions.
Captain Dave Hampton then swung a double change, bringing himself and Jarrod Goodes on with great results.
Hampton claimed the first wicket with Brad Molineux holding a sharp catch in gully and Goodes ripped through with a brute of a delivery that also finished in Molineux’s gloves.
Springvale south added 42 for the third wicket before Chris Underwood drew a false stroke and Cornell took a catch at backward square leg.
It was another 30run partnership for the fourth wicket before Ryan Crawford claimed the fourth with the score on 93. Carr came back into the attack and removed Bloods’ stalwart Jason Quirk for a duck with an unplayable yorker.
Underwood produced a lbw, Carr claimed his second and Crawford showed his champion qualities with another scalp.
At 8/201, and with plenty of overs left in the day, Berwick was keen to plow through the lower order and start eating into a relatively low Bloods’ total.
However, an experienced tail with the support of gun English import Danny Law, who was approaching a classy century, was able to push the score up.
Law was bowled for 102 in the 89th over and Springvale South had made 230.
Berwick made a disastrous start losing the wickets of Justin Stanton and Brad Molineux with the score on two.
Steve Carr and Dave Hampton faced the music from a firedup Law and the pair put together a defining 87run partnership
Berwick was back in control when Carr fell for 28 and Underwood came to the crease.
He played with his usual brute force and immaculate timing to knock up 22 in quick time to put the Bears in poll position just three wickets down and into the 120s.
He smashed a four straight down the ground only to fall the next ball, a significant loss for Berwick. Gavin Wills fell shortly after and when Hampton’s innings closed on 64, Berwick was in trouble.
At 6/132, Berwick still required 99 runs for victory with only four wickets in hand.
That was the start of a matchwinning partnership between Ryan Crawford and Rowan Nancarrow, who tipped the game back in Berwick’s favour.
It was celebrations galore when Crawford dispatched a short ball to the boundary to bring up the winning runs,
DDCA Berwick turfone premiership team: Dave Hampton (captain), Will Carr, Gavin Wills, Justin Stanton, Steve Carr, Chris Underwood, Simon Cornell, Jarrod Goodes, Ryan Crawford, Rowan Nancarrow, Brad Molineux, Brendan Lloyd (12th man) and Kristy Crawford (scorer).
D GRADE
Berwick came out resounding victors in its battle for premiership honours against Cranbourne at its home ground.
Asked to bowl first, the Bears looked like chasing a large total with Cranbourne 5/130 and in control.
Dave Dalzotto bowled well with the new ball and got two wickets, while captain Will Chapman bowled an immaculate line and length for three.
Mark Quinlan was introduced and took a muchneeded wicket and Dave Caldwell claimed four critical wickets to finish off Cranbourne and leave Berwick to chase 169 for victory.
Brenton Thorpe took three catches with the gloves and Mark Angelone, Geoff Wilcock and Dale Thomas held important catches.
Berwick made a bad start with the bat. Dale Thomas fell for 11, Thorpe for 12 and James Wilcock was stumped four six to make it 3/54.
However, Berwick was never really troubled with Mark Quinlan and Chapman adding 59 for the fourthwicket partnership.
Quinlan made a classy 32 and Chapman 46, with Berwick just short of victory with 147.
Mark Angelone (21) and Geoff Willcock (19 not out) brought up the winning runs.
DDCA Berwick Dgrade premiership team: Will Chapman (captain), Geoff Willcock, James Willcock, Tim Chapman, Dave Caldwell, Mark Quinlan, Dave Dalzotto, Mark Angelone, Dale Thomas, Steve Carle, Brenton Thorpe and Andrew Jenner (12th man).
UNDER 15 (1)
The young Bears were unable to get over Cranbourne in their grandfinal clash, chasing 218 off 45 overs.
Josh Holden claimed three wickets, with singles to Tom Scully, Michael Wallace, Marty Allan and Ryan Rhodes.
Despite a 50 from Jarrod Williamson and 28 from Michael Wallace, the tally was too big for the Bears who were all out for 141.
