Abhijeet Sharma plays a great cover drive on Saturday. 71957 Picture: DAMIAN VISENTINI
By Liam Twomey
SPOTSWOOD produced several solid batting performances to set Hoppers Crossing a total of 243 in an absorbing first day’s play
in round two of the Victorian
Turf Cricket Association on Saturday
Spotswood hosted Hoppers Crossing in great conditions for cricket, which is why it was surprising when Hoppers Crossing won the toss and sent Spotswood into bat.
Initially the decision looked to be a good one as the boys from Hoppers got an early breakthrough when Tom Grange was caught off the bowling of McCallum for three runs.
But Spotswood began to seize control of the match.
Abhijeet Sharma was joined at the crease by Ross Horkings and the two set about building a solid partnerships.
They guided the score through to 58 until Sharma was stumped off the bowling of Fawad Ahmed.
Just 11 runs later Horkings found himself back in the dressing room leaving the match evenly poised at 3/69.
Matt Leddin and David Buysen came together in the middle and the two were involved in a 74-run partnership to tip the scales back in Spotswood’s favour.
Off-season recruit Andrew Dickinson, more known for his bowling ability, then inflicted more pain on Hoppers Crossing, notching up a classy half-century that included three fours and a six.
By the time the 80 overs were up, Spotswood found itself at 9/242 and in the box seat ahead of day two this week.
“We had a few players who got among the runs yesterday so it was a good result.
“It was a shame no-one was able to go on but it was a great all-round performance,” Spotswood president John Wheeler said.
Dickinson’s 50 was the highest score of the innings while 48 from Buysen, 41 from Leddin and 40 from Sharma ensured the workload was spread over a number of players.
Hoppers Crossing will now have to worry about the damage Dickinson is capable of inflicting with the ball. He already has four wickets for the year and is looking at home in the VTCA.
“He is a very good player.He batted with one of our young blokes yesterday, Dave Buysen and the two of them batted for quite some time.
“It’s very good to have
that experience and the young blokes batting together,” Wheeler said.
Spotswood were hopeful the 242 would be enough to secure their first victory of the year.
“Runs on the board is always good. We believe we have one of the best attacks in the competition so hopefully we can do well,” he said.
