Date-stamped : 23 Mar94 - 14:24
AUS GRADE CRICKET : VCA Melbourne : Semi-final
Melbourne v Dandenong-Waverly, Albert Ground, 19-20 Mar 94

====> Day 1, 19 Mar 94
Favourites Melbourne and Fitzroy-Doncaster emerged from  day  one
of the District cricket semi-finals well placed to advance to the
Final despite spirited performances from both  Dandenong-Waverley
and  Ringwood.  Richard Herman (70) held the Demons together with
a strong performance.
At the Albert Ground,  Brendan  McArdle  won  the  toss  and  put
Melbourne in. On a slow-paced wicket, openers Michael Scalzo (32)
and Craig Bustard (43) were untroubled to take the  score to   76
at.   lunch.  But,  immediately  after the resumption, Dandenong-
Waverley paceman Paul McDonald struck, dismissing both   openers.
And  when  Brian  Lambert had Warren Ayres (1) out lbw, Melbourne
had slumped to 3/87.  Herman's innings was  a  gem.  He  attacked
anything loose, hitting six  fours and a six that soared over the
scoreboard and into the tennis courts at the  southern  end.   He
shared  a  fourth-wicket  partnership  of  45 in 65 minutes  with
skipper  Michael Sholly (12), which was looking dangerous until a
brilliant piece of fielding and a direct hit  from  David  McLeod
found Sholly short of his crease.  When Herman departed at 6/187,
Dandenong-Waverley   had  fought well  to  be back into the game,
but again the Demons were not to  be  denied,  with  first  gamer
Rohan   Catherall   (29 not  out)  and veteran  wicketkeeper  Rob
Templetan (34 not out) adding 68 in 77 minutes to leave Melbourne
In  a  strong position  at  6/257  at stumps.  Dandenong-Waverley
faces a tough task to make It through to the final.
(Bernard Dunn from The Sunday Age)
<END> Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)