Good shot: Wantirna South’s John Aumann hits a four against Ainslie Park on Saturday. Picture: Wayne Hawkins
WHEN it comes to playing Ainslie Park, you never know which team you will get, the one that matches it with the top sides in the RDCA Lindsay Trollope Shield or the team that falls to the lowly ones.
On Saturday the Parkers’ ‘giant killing’ team turned up and caused an upset win over Wantirna South at Ainslie Park Reserve. In the surprise of the round, Ainslie Park’s 8-185 was too good for Wantirna South’s 183.
CLICK HERE for our picture gallery of the Ainslie Park v Wantirna South game.
Wantirna South lost three early wickets to run outs but John Aumann (62) and Michael McDonald (36) put the Devils in the box seat to compile 183. The Parkers were in trouble at 5-42 before a sixth-wicket partnership of 67 between Brad Wadsworth (28) and Sean Arbuckle (29). Once these two departed, Mark Arnot (58 not out) and Scott Minetti (13) made sure their side got to victory in the final overs.
Arnot said his side, which was promoted to the top league this season, continued to surprise him when facing leading teams. ‘‘It’s very hard to say what we will do because we have lost games against opponents we should beat, won games against teams that I guess on paper should beat us.’’
Bayswater Park looked on track to register a big score against Norwood when it was 3-88 but Ben Sansom (4-19) and David Hester (3-42) had other ideas and once again the Sharks capitulated to lose 6-44 and finish on 9-132. Norwood then failed to capitalise and was skittled for 102 with Jason Butcher (3-12) the main wicket taker.
South Warrandyte was dismissed for 126 by North Ringwood, then Josh Barrett (4-23) had the Bulls in all sorts of trouble at 4-32. But North steadied and a fifth-wicket partnership of 61 between Michael Scott (61no) and Simon Gray (21) saw them over the line.
Warranwood’s resurgence continued when it easily beat Mooroolbark which was 2-7 before Adam Brush (38) and Adam Houghton (37) took the score to 85. Tim Hall (3-23) and Dave Johnson (13) then restricted the Barkers to 9-125. Warranwood lost three wickets chasing down the total.
South Croydon compiled 8-160 against Croydon North with Michael King (61no) the main scorer. In reply Daniel Barsenbach (3-11) and Robert Hughes (3-19) never gave the Knights a chance, to dismiss them for 105.
■ The RDCA won the under-12 Keith Mitchell Cup last week, beating the Eastern Cricket Association by five wickets in the final.