By ADEM SARICAOGLU
KEALBA Green Gully’s ambitious pursuit of a three-peat in the North West Metropolitan Cricket Association’s Luscombe Shield got off to a good start on Saturday.
The Cougars were sent in to bat by Buckley Park for the season-opening one-dayer at Green Gully Reserve and the home team made the most of it, posting 9/129 from the full load of 40 overs.
However the innings started in shaky fashion with former coach Andrew Lambropolous sent packing for a duck before fellow opener Michael West followed soon after for one.
Skipper and new coach Evan Long was then joined by Matthew Nadzielski in the middle and the pair managed to rescue the Kealba innings, putting on 53 together before the latter was caught for 26 – the Cougars’ top score for the day.
Long went on to star with the ball, claiming 4/19 off eight overs to lead his Cougars to a 10-run victory with an over to spare.
Kealba is gunning for a third successive title this summer under the guidance of Long, who recently told Star his group is hungry for more success.
“We’ve won the last two which is no mean feat and obviously our main goal is to go for three, there’s no denying that,” Long said.
“Obviously the first goal of the season is to make finals and we’d be bitterly disappointed if we don’t make that, but it’s a realistic goal to go for three.
“The boys are really hungry to do so and I don’t feel like I have to motivate them.
“The motivation’s there for three premierships, which is very uncommon and a bit of history for the club, too.”
Andrew Webb is the only major addition to the squad after Warren Kelly moved on at the end of last summer.
Instead of embarking on a major recruiting drive in the winter months, Long said he’ll be looking for the club’s younger brigade to step up and make a name for themselves this summer.
“I’m pretty much looking for the ones that have been there for the last three years that are 25 and under that can certainly be pushing for the side to go forward,” Long said.
“We didn’t really go on a big recruiting drive because we’re pretty happy with what we’ve got at the moment, so it’s just a matter of utilising that as we can.”
