Sydenham bowler Mario Buttigieg struck in his first over against Aberfeldie St Johns on Saturday. 74075_09 Picture: EMILY LANE
By ADEM SARICAOGLU
A WONDERFUL day with the ball ensured Sydenham Hillside returned to the winners list in the George Luscombe Shield against Aberfeldie St Johns on Saturday.
Playing in its first one-day match of the summer, the Storm restricted the home team to 95 runs in 36 overs before successfully chasing it down in just 12 overs.
Six of its bowlers got among the wickets while all seven managed to keep the runs to a minimum.
Alexander Hassett was terrific in his eight overs picking up 3/20, while captain-coach John Thrush and Trevor Bailey each chipped in with two of their own for very little runs.
Storm openers Peter Berry and Ramesh Shanmugam then made light work of the run chase collecting 81 of the required 96 in their opening stance.
Shanmugam looked a certainty to reach his half-century, but was caught for 49 and ultimately became the only victim of Aberfeldie St Johns’ attack for the day.
Berry was not out for 38 and Dean Allen could only manage a single in the shortened innings.
Thrush said he was particularly impressed with his side’s effort in the field on Saturday.
“It was and all the boys did get a couple,” Thrush said when asked about the Storm’s spread of wicket takers.
“We set a target with maidens – and we got close to it so I was pretty happy with that.”
The win was Sydenham Hillside’s second for the season, and after last week’s shocking two-day loss to Buckley Park, Thrush said it was good to see his side bounce back so strongly.
“The last game was a shocker so you can’t take anything for granted, especially from week to week,” he said.
“It was good the way we finished the game (on Saturday) but it means nothing if we don’t do well this week.
“Obviously I was disappointed with the last game but they bounced back well, so it’s just a matter of taking that into the next game.”
This Saturday the Storm will host Strathmore Heights at home for another one-dayer.
Meanwhile in addition to the first XI’s success, the Storm also had a good win in the Vic Kyte Shield against Craigieburn.
A half-century to Damien Cordwell helped steer Sydenham Hillside to a solid total of 8/220 before the Storm dismissed Craigieburn’s batting line-up for 86 in 30 overs.
