A restrictive bowling performance by Yarraville reduced Sunshine to a snail-paced 120 in batsman-friendly conditions in the Sub-District Cricket at Dempster Park on Saturday.
The Eagles were confronted by what captain Matthew Love described as “hot, windy conditions” and a pitch that was “hard and flat”, but they still managed to tie down the Crows to a score well below par.
There were 25 maidens and a run rate that was painfully slow at under two an over.
“It was real good to be able to apply good tight bowling pressure in trying conditions,” Love told
Star Weekly. “The key was taking wickets at regular intervals.”
Curtis Maguire was tireless in his efforts with both the new ball and in a second spell, the English-born paceman churning out 21 overs for 3-38 and a team-high eight maidens.
He now has eight wickets at 18 to be 15th ranked in the competition.
“I kept asking him, ‘how are you travelling?’ and he was like ‘yep, keep me going’,” Love said.
“When you’ve got a guy who looks like taking a wicket every ball, and he’s bowled really well all year, I was happy he was able to keep going and even have a second spell after tea.”
James Keenan, a second XI regular in recent seasons, looks ready to stake a claim for a regular top-fight berth after his 3-32 from 14 overs.
Veteran Tim McRae (2-18 off 13) and early-season star Patrick Prestidge (1-20 off 13) helped keep things tight.
Yarraville was left with just nine overs to face before stumps. And while most teams dread the dying overs, Love implored young openers Brad Shaw (25) and Brad Jones (2) to embrace them.
And they did, finishing on 0-27 and leaving the Eagles with just 94 to be ticked off for first-innings points and with 10 wickets in the bank.
“I told the young boys there’s plenty to gain from it,” Love said. “You can be off the mark and have seen three or four of their bowlers. “With under 100 to get next week, none down, we’re rapt.”
Meanwhile, Williamstown is in all sorts of trouble against Roxburgh Park-Broadmeadows after day one at Lakeside Drive Reserve.
The Seagulls were bowled out for a mediocre 109, with Brenton Hodges (30), Jonty Paulsen (30) and Luke Rainone (20) the only shining lights. Roxburgh Park-Broadmeadows reached 1-62 in reply.
