KEILOR has to defend its 8/255 this Saturday after producing a solid dig on day one of its VTCA clash against South Caulfield at Keilor Recreational Reserve. The Blues won the toss and chose to bat, but early on that decision did not look to be a good one. They recovered from their sluggish start of 2/21 after openers Liam Ryan and Shaun Guerra were dismissed for 13 runs combined.
With Chetan Arjun and Aaron Mato at the crease, the Blues rallied to get their innings back on track.
The pair produced 43 and 31 respectively, and after captain Danny Law went cheaply for 11, Matt Willmott made his way into the middle and added some polish for the Blues. Willmott scored an unbeaten 80 while Jody Hutchinson surprised with a knock of 53 after getting promoted up the order.
The second day’s play will start at 1pm this Saturday.
KEALBA Green Gully is back on the winners list in the North West Metropolitan Cricket Association’s George Luscombe Shield. After going down to Gladstone Park in a two-day game last weekend, the Cougars bounced back in their first one-day match of the summer away to Strathmore Heights. The Cougars won the toss and chose to bat, which looked to be a good call with their batting line-up surviving the 40-over innings to finish on 8/177. Opener Todd Newman was impressive with 40 while Divesh Kumar produced an unbeaten 39 from number nine in the order. Kumar then sealed best-on-ground honours with the ball, needing just three and a half overs to clean up the Strathmore Heights tail on his way to bowling figures of 5/21. But the damage was done earlier in the innings by Kealba’s Matthew Nadzielski, who claimed three of Strathmore Heights’ top four batsmen to end up with 3/18 off eight overs.
SUNSHINE fell just nine runs short of defeating Caulfield in the VSDCA on Saturday. After winning the toss and choosing to bowl first, Andrew Webb and Justin Summerville did the majority of the damage for Sunshine and each finished with three wickets. Chasing 156 to win, it was a horrible start for the Crows who found themselves in early trouble as the score slumped to 3/16. The responsibility then fell to captain Troy Stone and Kane Twentyman to dig their teammates out of a hole. The pair combined for a 61-run partnership before Stone was bowled with the score on 4/77. Sunshine continued to fight towards the total but the combination of consistent wickets and tight bowling ensured Caulfield would hang on to secure the win. Twentyman went on to make an impressive 42 while David Bonavia chipped in with 25. The result leaves Sunshine still searching for its first win of the year. This week the Crows will take on Melton.
A BRILLIANT bowling performance saw Williamstown cruise to its first win of the Victorian Sub District Cricket Association season against Malvern on Saturday. After winning the toss, Williamstown captain Craig Sheedy sent Malvern into bat and the decision proved to be the right one.
Wickets consistently fell throughout the innings with only four batsmen reaching double figures and none able to push past 20. Sheedy was the pick of the bowlers taking 3/16 from nine overs while Mathew Inness (2/21) and Cain Speakman (2/11) were outstanding as Malvern was bowled out for 89 in the 39th over. In reply, Williamstown easily reached the total, racing to 3/90 in the 19th over.
Brenton Hodges continued his great start to the season with the bat, posting a well-made 46 while Sheedy capped off a solid all round day with 21. The result moves Williamstown to ninth on the VSDCA ladder.
