Sydenham Hillside captain-coach John Thrush, pictured bowling, took 1/18 in a win over Gladstone Park over the weekend. 72399_04 Picture: EMILY LANE
By ADEM SARICAOGLU
SYDENHAM Hillside captain-coach John Thrush says his side still has a lot of improving to do despite a solid win over Gladstone Park in the NWMCA’s George Luscombe Shield competition.
The Storm was convincing in their six-wicket victory at Tullamarine Reserve on Saturday, but Thrush told Star there’s plenty of room for improvement.
“We were rusty… we were definitely rusty,” Thrush said.
“We started off the first 20 overs pretty sluggishly to be honest, and then after the first drinks break we bowled really well and fielded really well.
“I think you’d find a lot of clubs are probably like that, so hopefully we blew a few of the cobwebs out.”
Gladstone Park was sent in to bat and lasted the full 40 overs to finish its innings 8/178.
Dean Allen was the pick of the bowlers for the Storm in taking 3/36 in seven overs, while Trevor Bailey chimed in with 2/34 from his eight.
However it was the 134-run opening stance between Ramesh Shanmugam and Peter Berry that ultimately blew the game apart.
Perry was first to go shortly after notching up his half century when he was trapped LBW, before Shanmugam was bowled nine runs short of a ton soon after.
Despite the loss of those quick wickets the result had already become a formality, and the Sydenham Hillside middle order made light work of chasing down the remaining runs.
For the loss of just four wickets the Storm reached its target in 21 overs to secure its first victory of the summer.
While Thrush remains wary of his side’s “sluggish” start in the field, he said the result was pleasing, particularly once his bowlers took hold of the game.
“There’s obviously things we need to improve on, but the win was pretty pleasing, especially away from home it’s always hard, so it was good,” he said.
“If you get an edge down there (Tullamarine Reserve) it’s four, so it’s hard to set fields to.
“It’s hard to protect the boundaries because it’s such a small ground, but the wickets were shared around.
“It was a good team performance in regards to the fact there wasn’t any real standout.
“A few blokes got runs and a few got wickets, so it wasn’t just one person carrying the torch. Everyone did something.”
Thrush says he is now looking forward to the opportunity of producing more consistent cricket in weeks to come.
“We’ve got Buckley Park next week so we’re going to have to be ready to go for that one because it’s going to be a big game.”
The two-day game kicks off this Saturday at Hillside Recreation Reserve at 1pm.
