Facing down the finals
Sydenham Hillside came up just short of the target in its run chase against Gladstone Park in the North West Metropolitan Cricket Association on Saturday. After being set a monster 264 for victory, Sydenham was eventually bowled out for 237 in the 80th over. Gayath Pandikorala was the pick of the bowlers for Gladstone Park, taking 4-68. Despite the loss, Sydenham remains third on the NWMCA ladder, with five wins for the season. With just two rounds before finals, Sydenham will take on the sixth-placed Burnside Springs and fifth-placed Buckley Park.
Kealba mounts challenge
Kealba Green Gully showed off its batting depth at the weekend, defeating Buckley Park by five wickets in NWMCA. Kealba was set the imposing target of 281 for victory but brought up the win easily, thanks to an Evan Long century. Kealba is in second spot on the ladder, just four points behind top-of-the-table Pascoe Vale Central.
Parkers in top spot
Deer Park maintained its outstanding home record in the Bowls Victoria metropolitan pennant competition on Saturday. The Parkers are undefeated at home, with Whittlesea the latest side to feel the pressure. After a competitive start, Deer Park streaked away, winning 78-60. Deer Park has now improved its 2014-15 season record to 13-2 and sits on top of the division 1 table. The club’s only losses came in round eight against Ferntree Gully and round 11 to Croydon.
Kangaroos on a roll
Confidence continues to grow for the Greenvale Kangaroos after the side knocked off last season’s premiers, Footscray Edgewater, in the latest round of Victorian Premier Cricket. Resuming at 2-75, Greenvale captain James Lidgett partnered Dale McDonald to ensure a Kangaroos batting failure was nowhere to be seen. The two took the score to 2-180 before Lidgett fell for 63, just nine runs short of victory. McDonald and wicketkeeper Ben Cox passed Footscray’s score and continued to bat on, McDonald falling 10 runs short of a century, run out for 90. The Kangaroos batted on and finished the day 8-327.
