A terrific bowling display from Buckley Park saw Sydenham/Hillside suffer a 76-run loss in the North West Metro Cricket Association’s George Luscombe Shield on Saturday.
Chasing 195 for victory in the two-day match, the Storm made a terrible start, losing its first three wickets for just nine.
PICTURE GALLERY: Buckley Park v Sydenham/Hillside
From there Sydenham never recovered and lost wickets at regular intervals, preventing any sort of challenge to Buckley Park’s first-innings total.
A 39-run stand for the fifth wicket was the greatest resistance the Storm could provide.
Club coach Sanahasa Fernando led the way with 24 runs, while Phil Rigg (16) and Dylan Knight (14) were the only others to reach double figures.
The win promoted Buckley Park – which lost its opening two matches against Kealba/Green Gully and Strathmore Heights – into the top four after three rounds.
Sydenham/Hillside was at the mercy of some impressive Buckley Park bowling, particularly Daniel Moloney, who snared 5-35.
He was well supported by Rob Bullock (3/13), Michael Moloney (1/9) and Jason Iles (1/14), who backed up with the ball after scoring a half-century on day one.
The Storm travels for a one-day match at bottom-of-the-table Gladstone Park on Saturday.
Elsewhere on the weekend, Kealba/Green Gully scored an important outright victory over Strathmore Heights at Boeing Reserve.
Strathmore Heights were dismissed for 109 on day one and Kealba took first-innings points with an all-out total of 130. Andrew Lambropolous (32), Evan Long (32) and Jarrod Catania (20) all made starts.
When Strathmore Heights batted a second time, Kealba tore through their lineup with ease. The first three wickets fell for nine and the Heights made only 77 from 33.5 overs.
Andrew Webb was outstanding for Kealba with 4-10, while Catania (2-16), Danny Viani (2-18), Long (1-8) and Matt Nadzielski (1-24) also picked up wickets.
Needing 57 for victory. Kealba reached the target in 14 overs and with eight wickets in hand. Divesh Kumar made 24 and Lambropolous and Long were both not out 14.
Kealba/Green Gully is away to Pascoe Vale Central for a one-dayer on Saturday.
