Turner knock simply the best
A MATURE knock from Luke Turner propelled Bell Park to a gritty win over reigning premier Marshall.
Turner crunched a brilliant 92 as the Dragons successfully defended a below-par 207 at Hamlyn Park on Saturday to secure a second-straight win.
The left-hander’s stylish knock was the backbone of the Bell Park innings after being sent in by Bears skipper Stan Grazotis on a “tame” pitch.
“He played one of the best innings I’ve seen him play,” Dragons captain-coach Mick Lymer said of Turner.
“It was a real mature innings, and I said it to him in the rooms (on Saturday), he’s come a long way. He’s in love and he’s got a child on the way and it’s matured him for the better. It was a real mature innings.
“To sit there at one end and bat the way he did … he deserved a hundred. That was probably the only dampener on the day, because the way he batted under pressure was outstanding.”
With Jake Dubbeldam ripping through the top order, Turner knuckled down to work through a difficult period.
He watched on as fellow opener Jack Maclean was trapped lbw for one, import David Toft edged to second slip and skipper Lymer had his off-stump battered by a pumped up Dubbeldam.
Shane Lymer was also gone cheaply, trapped lbw by Brad Greenwood as the Dragons faltered to 4-20.
Finding support in former Guild-Saints veteran Steve Kelly, who steadied the ship with a timely 42, Turner batted his side back into the contest.
“It was a complete innings, whipping them off his pads to mid-wicket, nice straight drives, cut shots … there wasn’t much he wasn’t playing.
“He gave one chance early into the slips cordon, but outside of that, he didn’t look like going out. “He batted unbelievably patiently. He was in there for 40 overs for 92, but when you’ve got someone like Steve Kelly who came in and scored around him with 42, it made it easier for him.
“That’s Steve’s first hit at the club and he has a real wise head on his shoulders. That’s exactly what our team needs in the middle order.”
With Jamie Spiller (28) and Mitch Trask (19) chipping in with neat cameos, Bell Park pushed the target beyond 200.
“I still felt it was unders,” Lymer said.
“Admittedly, they were going in without their form batsman in (Corey) Walter, but we still knew we needed 10 wickets and to bowl really tight to win the game.”
Bears opener Glen Alexander was the best of the batsmen with 47, while Greenwood contributed with both bat and ball, making 26 and snaring 3-42.
Dubbeldam continued his impressive form, finishing with 4-28 from 10.