YARRAVILLE’S apparent stranglehold over the Kingston Saints loosened significantly with the loss of five late wickets on day one in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association.
The Eagles entered the last hour with a pep in their step after bowling the Saints out for a below-par 131 in near-perfect batting conditions.
But the tourists have given up what advantage they had by going to stumps at 5-51 in reply.
“We needed to get some runs out of the top order,” Eagles player-coach Tim McRae told the Weekly.
“Now we find ourselves in a bit of trouble with 80 runs still to get.”
You couldn’t decry the Eagles’ stellar performance with the ball.
They were confronted by stifling heat and a pitch that should no way have seen 15 wickets fall in the day.
McRae praised his bowlers for their patience and ability to bowl to a plan, which strangled the Saints’ flow of runs and forced them into poor shot selection. “The bowling pressure from our boys was really good,” he said, “particularly in the half hour before tea when we kept it really tight.”
Alex Hewet was his usual miserly self with 2-46 off 22 overs.
Nick Parish was also on song with 3-23 off 10. McRae (5-51) stole the limelight with five late wickets.
The Eagles day took a dramatic late U-turn. From a position of power, they find themselves in a spot of bother with 81 runs to get and just five wickets in hand.
McRae and Mathew O’Grady will start at the crease next week and McRae believes his batting order is long enough to pass the target “if they stay composed”.
Altona and Williamstown have long run chases ahead.
The A’s require a massive 344 for victory against Werribee in the Paul Jenkins Shield match at Grant Reserve.
The Seagulls will go in search of 255 when play resumes against Caulfield at the Williamstown Cricket Ground.
