Page 32 Thursday, 24 November, 2016
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Eagles’ stars hold clinic By Nick Creely DDCA REVIEW - ROUND 4 (DAY 2) “THEY just make batting look so easy.” “Give them a baggy green.” “They are the greatest duo in club cricket history.” These are just some of the remarks bandied around the traps of Casey Fields on Saturday, as Steven Spoljaric and Matthew Chasemore put on a batting clinic. The Eagles champions, who both have distinguished Premier Cricket resumes, came in at a shaky 4/28, before plundering a mind-blowing 308-run partnership, giving the Eagles a colossal six-wicket victory against North Dandenong. Spoljaric (158no), the three-time Alan Wookey medalist, is now averaging 311 in Turf 1 this season, and has now scored two consecutive centuries. Spoljaric was utterly devastating, with his cover-driving in full force, as he toyed with an opposition that could only do so much. He particularly enjoyed the off-spinner Michael De Kauwe (0/81 off 11 overs), who seemed to overpitch to him regularly, resulting in some spectacular and expansive long-hitting. Last year’s Wookey winner, Chasemore (148no), was simply majestical with his forceful square of the wicket shots. Despite having a slightly unconventional style of batting, ‘Cheeks’ just keeps churning out big scores. Only last Wednesday, Chasemore played a brutal knock of 87 in their Twenty20 clash against Narre Warren. The left and right hand combination seemed to unsettle a stunned North bowling unit, and eventually the game was called off with 24 overs still left to play. They must now surely be keeping their phones close to them, because a call from Australian
chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns is surely not too far around the corner. In other Turf 1 results, Berwick’s Jarrod Armitage has struck his second consecutive century, guiding the Bears to a convincing win over Parkfield. Armitage (108no), who turned 25 on Saturday, struck 16 fours and one six, in another stunning performance. After the Parkers made 191 last week, it was always going to be a tricky chase with the Bears resuming at 2/47. But skipper Jarrod Goodes and Armitage stuck together despite some early wickets, putting on a splendid 118-run partnership, surpassing the Parkers. Goodes (54) played a brilliant counter-attacking innings, hitting his runs at a run-a-ball, as the Parkers pondered what could have been. Mordialloc has comfortably defeated Dandenong West, but failed to obtain double-points at Ben Kavanagh Reserve. Resuming at 5/148, the Bloodhounds didn’t bat that long, declaring on 9/220, and 140 runs clear, with 63 overs left in the day’s play. But the Bulls showed grit with the bat, managing to bat out the day, despite the Bloodhounds continual pressure with the ball. Springvale South has held off a fast-finishing Dingley, as the Dingoes continue to emerge in Turf 1 this season. After the Bloods posted a tricky 7/264 last week, off the back of a sparkling century by Nathan King, the Dingoes resumed the day’s play at 1/8. After the loss of a few early wickets, the Dingoes fought hard, as Calvin Barlow (57) threatened to take the game away from the Bloods. But Jarryd Straker (5/58) took the last four wickets to end the Dingoes’ resistance on 194. Hallam-Kalora Park is building into a force to be reckoned with, edging out a highly-fancied Buckley Ridges in their clash at Park Oval.
QUIZ NUMBER 1532 1. STEVE Smith suffered his first Test loss as Aussie skipper in 2016. Against which country? 2. IN which track and field event is the world record broken most often? 3. WHO is the current coach of the Socceroos? 4. WHO was The Marrickville Mauler? 5. WHICH Aussie cricket ground hosted its first Test match in 1989? 6. WHICH Australian horse trainer had over 7000 winners to his name? 7. WHICH prominent sportsman was named Australian of the Year in 1989? 8. WHO was the last Australian to win the Wimbledon ladies singles final? 9. WHICH city hosted the 1986 Commonwealth Games? 10. WHICH Australian golfer achieved fame as a trick shot artist in the 1920s? 11. WHAT was sprint star Marjorie Jackson’s nickname? 12. WHO was the first Australian disqualified from the Olympics for allegedly taking drugs? 13. WHAT is the minimum number of points required to win a tennis game? 14. WHO was the last horse to win the Caulfield - Melbourne Cup double? 15. WHICH country won the 1982 World Cup soccer final? 6. WHO is coach of the Australian cricket team? 18. WHICH annual Australian event is the world’s oldest professional running race? 19. WHO was Australia’s first surfing world champion? 20. HOW long is a cricket pitch?
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17. WHICH Australian sculler went 20 years without tasting defeat?
With the Bucks resuming at 1/10, still 188 runs short of victory, it was highly important they got off to a positive start. But wickets kept coming, mainly through Jordan Hammond (3/31), as they cut apart the Bucks middle order. Sushantha Pradeep (35) continued his strong start to the season with the bat, and helped lift the Bucks to 164. Heinz-Southern Districts have climbed into the top-four, knocking off bottom side Narre Warren. The Cobras resumed play at 6/87, 25 runs short of victory, but were 8/83 early on. But Cobras keeper Brodie Yapp (51) guided them home with one wicket to spare.
Cranbourne legends Steven Spoljaric (left) and Matthew Chasemore put on a club record 308-run partnership. 162073 Picture: ROB CAREW
Cats too good for Swans By Nick Creely PREMIER CRICKET REVIEW - ROUND 7 (DAY 2) IT was truly a tough day at the office for Casey-South Melbourne, going down to a ruthless Geelong side in day two of their clash at Geelong Cricket Ground. After the Swans posted 244 last week, the Cats were irresistible with the blade, amassing a whopping 5/397 as they climbed themselves off the bottom of the Premier ladder. After the Cats resumed play at 0/85, with Aaron Finch missing due to Victorian duties, they continued their domination, with skipper Eamon Vines (73) and Tyler Larkin putting the Swans to the sword. Larkin, who has only played Premier Cricket for two seasons, was out for the dreaded 99, and played with such fluency to suggest he has a strong future in the game. Leg-spinner Cameron Dinger (3/86) was a rare bright spot in a tough match from the improved Swans outfit, while Dylan Hadfield (1/43) and Nathan Lambden (1/69) tried hard despite the lack of wickets. Exciting all-rounder Dylan Hadfield said despite the result, there were plenty of areas they can look at positively. ”It was a pretty tough weekend, but I think we learnt we need to be far more consistent with our bowling,” he said. “We bowled well in patches and then poorly in patches, and we just needed to make the most of our opportunities to be honest. “We need to ensure we are always on and performing consistently for 96 overs of cricket - and we need to make sure we are always focused on the task at hand. “However, it was nice to give some guys an opportunity to bowl at this level - I thought Cam Dinger was just fantastic, he bowled well all day for 26 overs and showed he can do it at this level.” An area of concern for the Swans this season has been their inability to convert starts with the bat, something Hadfield is fully aware of.
It was a tough day in the field for the Swans. 161456 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS “The guys who are getting off to a good start, whether it be 20 or 30, we need them to go on from there - that right there is the difference between getting around the 250 mark and going on and making over 300,” he said. “It’s an area we need to improve on and we are working on it.” This weekend will feature double-header Twenty20s; with Casey battling Dandenong at Casey Fields on Saturday in what is sure to be an exciting crosstown clash. “Training this week will be slightly different- we have done some work to get use to Twenty20 conditions,” Hadfield said. “We will work on our game sense and Twenty20 tactics this week, such things as tempo with the bat and target areas with the ball are a key focus.” Meanwhile, Dandenong is now well and truly the team to beat this season - and in the
process inflicted further pain on Prahran in day two of their clash at Shepley Oval. The Panthers continued on from their dominating display last week, piling on 130 quick runs, before declaring 150 runs in front and 49 overs left to play in the game. James Nanopoulos (83) continued his fine start to the season for the Panthers with both bat and ball, while Cameron Forsyth (61) combined brilliantly with Nanopoulos for a 107-run partnership that steered them to the commanding lead. But the Blues dug deep in the second innings, and despite constant pressure and plenty of chatter in the field, salvaged something from the wreckage. They ended the day on 4/170, with Pattinson (1/10), Justin Butterfield (1/42), James Nanopoulos (1/36) and Peter Cassidy (1/17) taking the wickets.
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ANSWERS: 1. Sri Lanka 2. The pole vault 3. Ange Postecoglou 4. Jeff Fenech 5. Hobart’s Bellerive Oval 6. Tommy Smith 7. Allan Border 8. Evonne Cawley in 1980 9. Edinburgh 10. Joe Kirkwood 11. ‘The Lithgow Flash’ 12. Alex Watson 13. Four 14. Ethereal 15. Italy 16. Darren Lehmann 17. Bobby Pearce 18. The Stawell Gift 19. ‘Midget’ Farrelly 20. 22 yards