By Dejan Kalinic
SYDENHAM/HILLSIDE continued its unbeaten start to the George Luscombe Shield with a comfortable 68-run win against Gladstone Park in the North West Cricket Association.
Star batsman Warren Hackney struck an 89 not out to help his team to a dominant 4/214, before early wickets had the visiting Gladstone Park in trouble.
Storm captain-coach Bob Kunesevic said members of his team were using last year’s semi-final loss as motivation and insisted there was room for improvement.
“We’ve been lucky – either our batting has been excellent or our bowling has been,” he said.
“We have yet to put a complete game together, which is one area we’ve got to work on during training and keep improving.”
Hackney, whose only other outing this season was an unbeaten 84 against the same team in round one, was involved in two important partnerships.
He put on 63 with opener Dean Allan (50) for the fourth wicket before the latter was stumped down the leg side.
Kunesevic said Allan was getting closer to becoming one of the competition’s leading batsmen.
“He’s just one big score away from taking the competition by the scruff of the neck,” he said.
Greg Wilson (20) also combined with Hackney for a quickfire 75-run stand.
The captain-coach said the ability to put together partnerships was a key difference between the two teams.
“We managed to bat in partnerships and our fielding was superior to theirs,” Kunesevic said.
The visitors lost captain and leading run scorer Craig Wallace, who couldn’t bat after splitting the webbing near his thumb in the field.
The loss of wickets at regular intervals saw Gladstone Park slump to 7/94, despite the good hitting of opener Paul Camilleri (41).
In-form batsman Jaydan Moore provided some resistance with a fine knock of 60, but Peter Bailey caught him at long on off the bowling of left-arm paceman Alexander Hassett (3/28).
Kunesevic said his team allowed Gladstone Park about 30 runs too many to reach 146.
He said the Storm were yet to put together an all-round performance this season, despite winning all four of their games.
“We’re winning games comfortably at the moment but there’s still a lot of improvement in our side.”
Kunesevic didn’t bat or bowl due to a niggling back injury, but he is hopeful of having a greater impact in this Saturday’s local derby against Kealba-Green Gully.