PARKFIELD is shaping as a danger side entering the final two rounds of the DDCA turf 1 season.
The club scored an outright win over Mordialloc on Saturday, keeping its slim finals hopes alive with two-day clashes against a shaky Narre Warren and lowly Heinz Southern Districts to end the season.
Although the eighth-placed Parkfield concedes it is a rank outsider to make the finals, it's only five points adrift of second-placed Berwick in the tight turf 1 ladder.
Nine second-day wickets to Shane Bell (4-3 and 5-47) and handy contributions from star bowler Hemantha Alles (2-21 and 3-24) and Steve Spoljaric (4-15) helped their side bowl Mordialloc out for 76, then make a quick 3-41 before leaving their opponents 159 for a second-innings win. Mordialloc could only manage 110 all out, giving Parkfield a full 10 points.
Parkfield captain Dale Harris said his side would need some luck but would continue to aggressively pursue an unlikely finals berth. "We are not going to die wondering. Four to five poor wickets either side of Christmas has cost us dearly and it's unlikely we make it. But if we get in we will be a danger side because we have the best player in the competition [Spoljaric] on our side."
Hallam Kalora Park scored an invaluable win over Narre Warren, bowling the Magpies out for 144 after making 260 on day one.
Lee Brown (6-30) was the chief destroyer and Cory Booth added two wickets.
North Dandenong bowled out bottom side Keysborough for 236 in response to its 6-258 declared. Continuing on its march to the premiership, top side Doveton beat Springvale South with Matt Hutchinson (6-31) leading the way.