Scalped … Kealba-Green Gully opening bowler Matthew Scalzo took six wickets in a sublime performance on Saturday. 58925 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
By Dejan Kalinic
KEALBA-Green Gully moved into a dominant position in its important George Luscombe Shield clash with Pascoe Vale Central after another fine display with the ball in the North West Cricket Association.
The Cougars, sitting second on the ladder, bowled the third-placed visitors out for 130 after the start of play was delayed until 3.25pm due to the ground conditions.
The home team worked tirelessly to soak the water which settled 20m from the bat in the cover region and ordered three litres of sand to help their cause.
Kealba-Green Gully captain-coach Andrew Lambropoulos was happy with the performance and said the home side was confident of chasing down the target.
“I don’t think it was brilliant but it was honest,” he said. “The wickets came steadily and that’s what I was happy with more than anything. We didn’t run through the side but they came steadily. I’m fairly certain we can make these runs. We’ve got the ability to do it.”
Opening bowler Matthew Scalzo (6/27 off 12.1 overs) did the damage again, taking his tally for the season to 31 wickets while Evan Long (3/16) also took some important scalps.
Despite struggling with the heat, Lambropoulos said Scalzo was in fine form and the work in the field was helping reward the fast bowler.
“He’s on fire at the moment,” the captain-coach said. “He is full of confidence and he is hitting the right areas. We’re really backing him up.”
The Cougars were sharp in the field and took a number of fine catches.
Todd Newman pulled in a stunning one-hander at mid-wicket and Lambropoulos, who held his nerve looking into the sun to take another, was delighted with the fielding effort.
“Our catching was brilliant. I’m really happy with that this year,” he said. “It’s our strength. I’m really impressed.”
The Cougars had their opponents at 7/65 before the lower order settled in to add some respectability to the total. Lambropoulos said the Cougars were working on bowling out the tail quicker, but felt his team didn’t do much wrong on the opening day.
In the one-day game in early December, the Cougars were bowled out for 94 before Pascoe Vale Central limped to the total to win by one wicket.
Sydenham/Hillside faces a challenge to claim first innings points in its clash with Campbellfield after the visitors were bowled out for 214.
The Storm, which will resume at 0/8, had the visitors struggling at 9/147 before their troubles bowling out the lower order surfaced with a last wicket stand of 64.
Recruit Brad Hatton took three wickets while Timothy Grech and Paul Lorimer took two each.
Burnside Springs continued to struggle as it was bundled out for 110 at Roxburgh Park. Stand-in captain Adam Spiteri top scored with 29 before Simon Vaughan grabbed 2/22 with the ball to have the home side 3/42 at stumps.
