A POOR opening day’s play has cost Keilor a win in the opening round of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association, going down to Hoppers Crossing by three wickets on Saturday. Hoppers Crossing established a 56-run first innings lead as Keilor got its second dig off to a bad start, losing an early wicket with just a single run on the board. Syed Hussain (11) and Aaron Mato (19) got things back on track with a 34-run partnership, but Hoppers Crossing bowler Luke Goegan quickly tore the game apart. Goegan claimed four wickets for 25 in just five overs to stifle Keilor’s second innings, in which they made 147 before getting dismissed in the 47th over. Hoppers Crossing scored the required 75 in 26 overs with Chris Henry (20), Asif Jan (16) and Michael Tubb (26) all getting decent starts with the bat.
IN the North West Metropolitan Cricket Association’s George Luscombe Shield competition, Sydenham Hillside was beaten by Buckley Park on Saturday. The Storm’s total of 177 was successfully chased down for the loss of just two wickets as Buckley Park captain John Markham scored 116 to lead his team home. In 75 overs Buckley Park was eventually bowled out for 295, with Trevor Bailey taking 3/54 to be the pick of Sydenham Hillside’s bowlers. Meanwhile reigning premiers Kealba Green Gully went down Gladstone Park by 188 runs in their two-day clash at Tullamarine Reserve. Gladstone Park was very impressive in its dig to set Kealba a target of 282, but with just two batsmen managing to get into double figures, Kealba crumbled to be bowled out for 94 in under 39 overs. Evan Long was the lone shining light for Kealba with 37, while Matthew Nadzielski was the next best bat with 14.
WERRIBEE is on top of the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association South/West Division ladder after soundly beating reigning premier Melton by eight wickets at Chirnside Park on Saturday. The Tigers easily chased down Melton’s paltry total of 96 in just under 43 overs after Melton’s top five batsmen were all dismissed for single figures. At one stage the Lions found themselves stranded on 7/28, but Duncan Harrison (37*) and Nathan Allen (38) managed to salvage something out of the innings for the Lions with a 49-run stand. However when Werribee’s Jake Purton broke that partnership, only 19 more runs were added to the Lions’ total. Chasing a small target, Werribee made light work of its innings, reaching 97 for the loss of just two wickets within 33 overs. Captain Shaun Dean was the pick of Werribee’s batsmen with an unbeaten 36, while Tim O’Brien also proved handy with his unbeaten contribution of 31.
ALTONA managed to turn around a disastrous start in its Victorian Sub District Cricket Association match against Yarraville on Saturday to claim a nine-run win. Batting first, Altona was at one stage 5/11 before Josh Wells came to the rescue. The gun batsman scored an impressive 59 in difficult conditions to ensure his bowlers would at least have something to defend. Yarraville’s Alex Hewet was unplayable with the ball earlier in the match and finished with the figures of 4/6 from his nine overs. The opening bowler now has a combined total of 8/13 from his two matches this year. However, small totals are never as easy to chase down as they look on paper and that was the case for the Eagles. Yarraville crumbled to be all out for 129 in the 37th over with Matthew Harrison top scoring with 29. The Altona bowlers split the wickets in an even performance across the board.
The result sees Altona remain undefeated this season while Yarraville now has a 1-1 win/loss record.
