ALTONA made a blistering start to the new year with a shock win over Caulfield in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association at Frank Kirk Oval on Saturday.
The A’s turned the calendar sitting second-last on the ladder after six winless rounds and were in desperate need of a pick-me-up.
Relieved A’s captain John Varchione told the Weekly it was a memorable victory in what had been a tough summer. “It was a good feeling to get a win — one of the best I’ve been involved with at the club.”
The A’s are still stuck in unlucky 13th position despite returning to the winner’s circle.
Separating the A’s from a berth in the top six is a mere six points.
Still, finals talk is off the agenda at Civic Parade.
“We’ve got a tough draw in the run home,” Varchione said.
“We’re just trying to be competitive every week. You lose focus if you start to talk about that type of stuff.”
Caulfield put up a competitive 5-218 from its 45 overs.
The A’s turned to spinner Aaron Maynard to put the brakes on the run rate and he delivered with 1-27 off nine overs.
Owen Alsop produced a quality spell at the death with 2-30 off his nine.
“Aaron rushed through his overs in the middle period,” Varchione said. “Owen bowled at the difficult stage in the last three overs.”
The A’s’ best chance of victory was to have a big opening stand and keep wickets in hand in the last 10 overs, and they achieved both.
Varchione (71) and Adam Brown (43) set up the innings with a 97-run opening stand.
Maynard (49), Lee Elmore (20) and Alsop (23 not out) cashed in at the end, Elmore and Alsop doing the bulk of the work when the A’s still needed 87 off the last 10 overs. “It was a great effort,” Varchione said. “When you’ve got eight wickets in hand, you give yourself a chance.”
The A’s face Sunshine, which broke a year-long drought with a win over Yarraville on Saturday, in a two-day game away at Dempster Park.
Scoreboard:
Firsts: Altona 6-219 (Varchione 71) d Caulfield 5-218, Sunshine 9-198 d Yarraville 8-150, Melton 4-136 (Gale 59no) d Williamstown 9-135.
Seconds: Williamstown 2-181 (Bratby 100no) d Melton 9-180 (Christofaro 70no), Caulfield 3-177 (Smith 89) d Altona 176, Yarraville 7-170 d Sunshine 123.
Thirds: Williamstown 6-252 (Dervan 101no Doyle 71) d Melton 125, Yarraville 8-192 d Sunshine 86, Preston 7-233 (Deniris 57) d Altona 152.
Fourths: Preston 1-100 d Altona 96, Williamstown 5-168 d Melton 9-149, Yarraville 150 d
Sunshine 73.
