DUBLIN is in a strong position to start its Para District Cricket Association season 3-0, despite posting a pedestrian total of 138 at home against Parafield Gardens after winning the toss and opting to bat.
Ex-South Gawler players Riley Barker (44) and Brodie Barker (17) were two of Dublin’s three players who were able to score more than a dozen runs on the day, with Parafield Gardens’ Luke King wreaking havoc on his way to figures of 6/36.
With more than 20 overs to bat after changing sides, Parafield Gardens faltered early and often as the Dublin duo of Tyson Richard (3/16 from 11 overs) and Lachlan Goss (2/19 from 12 overs) made life miserable, with nobody else getting a chance to bowl before stumps was called at 5/43.
Angle Vale has likely already pencilled in the win against North Eastern Knights after workhorse Justin Carman ripped through the side on his way to 7/40 with nine maidens from his 22 overs of work.
His efforts saw the Knights dismissed for just 94 runs, and with 22 overs to bat before stumps, Angle Vale raced to 1/74 to set up a situation where it’s not a case of if it wins, it’s by how much.
Salisbury West’s chase of Virginia’s 117 total will come down to the wire after the latter produced some excellent bowling late in the day to reignite the affair.
It was a disappointing innings with the bat for Virginia, as its top three all managed to reach 20 runs, but none were able to push on past 30, leaving too much work for the middle order to salvage a winning score.
In grade two, One Tree Hill had a fun day in the middle as it ran up a massive 7/350 score in 70 overs, led by opener Mick Corfield who scored 146.
Four of Corfield’s teammates also scored at least 33 runs in a superb team performance, leaving Enfield United with a very difficult task on day two.
Eyre Royals also posted a mammoth score as Craigmore had no answer for Akram Arifi (120) who led his side to 7/306.
In grade three, North Eastern Knights almost pulled off an improbable win while defending a total of 79 as Knights bowler Andrew Balding picked up figures of 7/15 as Peninsula Pirates struggled to get any footing in its chase.
The Pirates ultimately did get the job done, winning by one wicket, before being dismissed just one run later on 80 with the first innings result in the bag.
