Tara Murray
Yarraville Club’s finals hopes are now in its own hands after an outright win in the first two-dayer of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division.
Playing the longer format for the first time since before COVID-19, the Clubbers came away with a convincing win against Westmeadows, moving the side into the top four.
For Clubbers captain-coach Mitch Johnstone he finally got to see how the side performs in two-day cricket.
“We’ve always joked about it, that they’ve been telling me since I started that they’re better at two-day cricket,” he said.
“We’ve been working a lot on the shorter format, but they’ve been proven right. They’ve played some really good cricket the last two Saturdays.
“We have a tough run home, so we know to control our own destiny. We are four points clear of fifth.”
Johnstone said their experience really shone through against Westmeadows, with those experienced heads playing a lot of two-day cricket previously.
The Clubbers resumed at 3-55 on day two, after bowling the Warriors out for 125 on day one of the match.
Johnstone said he forgot how nervous you get between day one and two of the match.
“I was a little bit nervous with a young batting line up,” he said.
“I thought we should step up and I was relatively confident that we would get the runs.”
The Clubbers got the runs and declared at 9-176, giving them a lead of 51.
Chinthaka Jayasinghe top scored with 84 against his old side.
Johnstone said with only a small lead they dangled the carrot in front of the Warriors to take the match on and fight for a reverse outright result.
With the side sitting on the bottom of the ladder they did exactly that.
The Warriors were bowled out for just 122, leaving the Clubbers needing 71 off 21 overs.
Johnstone took seven wickets for the Clubbers, but was expensive as the Warriors went after him.
Johnstone along with Ash Sweet and Trent Lawford proved crucial in both innings. Johnstone said their experience shone through and they worked really well as a unit.
The Warriors got the runs, finishing 2-72.
Johnstone said they were quite happy to get the result.
“We had to get 71 off 21 overs and with guys like Trent and CJ in the side we were confident,” he said. Damjanovski
“We still have to address our top order batting, but CJ and James Damjanovski got the job done.
“James has had a mixed run with the bat and hopefully it’ll kick start his season.
“To get 20 wickets in a relatively short game is a good effort.”
The Clubbers are also through to the finals of the T20 competition. Johnstone said they were keen to win that title.
“We’ve got a younger team in that competition,” he said.
“We’ll go out to win it as you can’t pick and choose when to play well. We’re blooding a few as well.”
Meanwhile the Druids lost to Keilor in the senior division.
Needing 325 for victory, the Druids were bowled out for 175. The Druids finished 4-63 in their second innings.
