Hoppers Crossing celebrates a wicket in its match 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 in to 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 their 80 overs were up, Spotswood found themselves at 9/242 and in the box seat ahead of day-two this week.
Hoppers Crossing president Steve McNamara said the target was within his club’s reach heading into day two.
“It was probably a bit of an indifferent day after winning the toss and bowling.
“We got a little bit of assistance with the ball early but then that completely stopped and it became a good batting wicket,” he said.
“We just need to get away to a good start on Saturday.
“That will be the key for us. If we can do that I think it’s a very gettable target for us.”
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.
Despite it still being early days in the VTCA season McNamara said he was happy with the direction his club was taking.
“The playing group are training a fair bit harder than they ever have before and that is only going to benefit us,” he said.
“There is a great feeling at the club at the moment.”
