By Adrian Ceddia
SUNSHINE United has made a perfect start to its first season in the Senior A1 Division of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association, successfully defending its first innings total of 218 at Selwyn Park.
An 88-run stand on the opening day between United middle order batsmen William Blair and Tim Vaughan was the difference between the two sides, with Seddon able only to collect 170 runs in the reply dig.
Glen Richmond (39) and Daniel Pace (26) were also important in setting up the win, as well as bowler Brock Boddington, who was the chief destroyer for Sunshine United on the second day snaring an impressive 5/52.
It was not such a fast start to the season for Sunshine Druids, which went down on the first innings to Melbourne High School Old Boys.
The Druids were made to chase 226 runs for victory after taking to the field first – a total made possible by a 95-run innings from Melbourne’s Luke Taylor.
In reply, Sunshine made 149 from 62 overs.
East Keilor was also on the receiving end of a loss in the first round, falling to Strathmore by 96 runs.
Strathmore skipper David Tate virtually hit East Keilor out of the contest, slapping 134 runs on the way to his team’s total of 9/283.
Seven of East Keilor’s batsmen made more than 20 runs in the reply, but the team lacked a player capable of making a big score and was dismissed for 187.
In the Senior Division, Keilor was just two wickets away from an outright victory in a dominant performance against Old Essendon Grammarians.
The Blues were led by a 76-run innings from Scott Porter on day one with the side making 241, before restricting Old Essendon to just 77 runs.
Keilor enforced the follow on and had backed the Grammarians into the corner at 8/136 – still needing 29 runs to avoid an embarrassing loss – when stumps were drawn.
