SUNSHINE is rooted to the bottom of the Victorian Sub District Cricket Association ladder after suffering another loss at the weekend – this time to finals aspirant Preston in round six.
Despite solid performances from bowlers Michael Rees and Glenn Sullivan and a half-century to Troy Stone, Sunshine lost by 108 runs in the first innings.
On its home turf last week Preston won the toss and batted, and struck trouble early when Rees removed the first two wickets for just 30 runs. The early enthusiasm was short-lived as opener Shayne Dey made 71 before becoming Kevin Silber’s only victim.
Sunshine’s sharp work in the field produced two run outs, but Preston’s middle order took the total to 236 in 78.3 overs.
The reply got off to a shaky start with Sullivan caught for 4, before Silber and Stone steadied to take the score to 47. The middle order, so important in Preston’s innings, proved the achilles heal for Sunshine and a flurry of wickets saw the visitors in trouble at 6/76.
Marc Mudford flew the flag in the latter stages with 20, but it was too late as his team crawled to an eventual total of 128.
Preston’s Kevin Lowe was the most damaging bowler, finishing with 3/28.
Sunshine has only won six points from its opening six matches, and is three points behind Williamstown approaching the final match before the Christmas break against Melton at Dempster Park.
Sunshine’s second XI suffered a similar fate on the weekend, falling 149 short of Preston’s first innings of 299, set last week.
Matthew Stone led the charge in the reply, smashing 40, but it was not enough to haul his side over the line.
