SOUTH Croydon is mystified as to why vandals attacked the synthetic wicket at its Cheong Park home ground late last week.
Vandals spread a substance, believed to be motor oil, over the batting crease and bowlers' run-ups almost forcing the cancellation of the Bulldogs clash with East Ringwood in the Ringwood District Cricket Association on Saturday.
The Bulldogs face a bill of between $2500 and $3000 to replace the wicket, which was newly installed before this season as part of upgrades at Cheong Park.
After two contractors specialising in oil removal attempted to remove the oil the pitch was deemed unplayable. Bulldogs captain-coach Josh Stewart said the clubs agreed to play at Glen Park, the wicket used by the Bulldogs' lower grade sides. The Bulldogs played several matches on Glen Park last season while the Cheong Park surface was being upgraded.
"People went out to the wicket in the morning to put in the stumps for the juniors and as soon as they walked on it they slipped over," Stewart said.
"You couldn't see the oil from distance. We are still trying to work out whether we can get it out, or if we need to pull it up and replace it which would be a bit of an inconvenience."
South Croydon issued a statement on the RDCA website thanking committee member Gregor Mason, the game's umpires, and Wantirna, North Ringwood and East Ringwood cricket clubs for their patience and help in making sure the senior game could go ahead.
The Bulldogs had secured first innings' points on day one and last Saturday Bulldogs bowler Glynn James (5-34) once again caused havoc among East's batsmen to help dismiss them for 108 with John Wallace (48) top-scoring. Requiring 105 for outright points, the Bulldogs' batsmen took 23 overs to finish on 3-106 with Phil Cross (41) doing the best.
Stewart praised his bowlers for their efforts against the Roos.
"It was another really pleasing performance from our bowlers who have been superb over the past three weeks," he said.
"Full credit to East Ringwood and the umpires who were determined to play and their flexibility allowed us to start on time and get a full day's play in."
Warranwood upset North Ringwood as David Johnson (5-14) tore through the Bulls middle and lower order after tea as they lost 6-8 to be dismissed for 131 chasing the Sharks' 8-263.
Stuart Moore (45) and Michael Scott (39) were the top scorers for the Bulls.
Norwood's Ben Hastie (60) held the innings together to see the Vikings finish on 6-210 in reply to Bayswater Park's 10-207.
South Warrandyte resumed at 3-86 in reply to Croydon North's 155 and took 49 overs to finally run out winners, declaring at 8-161.
The Knights, batting a second time, finished on 4-111 with Shafiq Nazir contributing 65 not out.
Wantirna South resumed at 5-75 chasing Croydon Ranges' 129 and with Tao Collins (7-71) threatening to cause an upset it was a sixth-wicket partnership of 92 between Michael McDonald (74) and Jason Walsh (24) that delivered the Devils' first innings points. Declaring at 8-197, Wantirna South, chasing outright points, fell two wickets short with Simon Crow (48 not out) seeing the Kookaburras finish on 8-107.
Wayne Ross (4-24) finished the match with 10 wickets.
Wonga Park was looking at an outright defeat against Mooroolbark after being dismissed for 48 in their first innings.
Things looked grim at 5-54, but Dean Letson (49 not out) and second gamer Jayson Spurrell (28) kept the Barkers' attack at bay to finish at a respectable 6-164.
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