Williamstown’s Andrew Walsh steams in to bowl against Yarraville Club on Saturday. 71612 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
By Liam Twomey
WILLIAMSTOWN has fallen short by 27 runs against Yarraville Club Cricket Club in the opening round of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association season.
Williamstown won the toss and elected to field first, and the decision paid almost immediate dividends as Andrew Leetet got his first victim of the year to put Yarraville on the back foot at 1/10.
Justin Baker was joined at the crease by Michael O’Keefe and the two set about building the innings. They put on a 75-run partnership together until Baker was dismissed for 50.
O’Keefe continued his good work in the middle, batting through the remainder of the innings to guide Yarraville to 4/171 from their 40 overs.
Yarraville captain Baker said he was happy with the score his side put on the board.
“It was hard going in the middle, the wicket was a little slow and it was a bit up and down,” he said.
“Getting 170 we thought was a reasonably good score. As the day went on, the wicket started to play a bit better.”
Leetet and Chris Holt did most of the bowling for Williamstown and finished with combined figures of 3/95 from 26 overs.
However, with all other bowlers used going for between five and seven runs per over, it was going to be a difficult task to chase down the runs.
The Williamstown innings got off to a shaky start when they lost Billy Millar, with the score on just six.
Janaka Siriwardana made his way to the crease and looked at home from the first ball he faced.
He scored a near run-a-ball 75 to give his team a chance, but couldn’t find anyone to stay with him long enough in the middle.
After being 4/97, Williamstown lost their last six wickets for 47 runs, to be dismissed for 144 with three overs left.
New Yarraville recruit Matthew Boglis took the final four wickets of the innings to seal the victory and finish with figures of 4/20 from seven overs.
Baker said it was great to have Boglis in the side this year.
“It’s huge for us and I think he will be a big player for us this year. He is a very switched on cricketer and will be a great pick up,” Baker said.
“To have that front line spinner that we have sort of lacked for the last couple of years is great for the club.”
Steven Oosterhof was also good with the ball and finished with 3/33.
For Williamstown, they now turn their attention to a home match against McKinnon this week
where they will look to notch up their first win of the year.
In other VTCA results, Hoppers Crossing got the year off to a great start, defeating St Bernard’s by nine runs in a nail-biting clash at Hogans Reserve.
The news wasn’t as good for Spotswood, who lost to Beaumaris by 25 runs.
