Altona’s total of 180 against Roxburgh Park-Broadmeadows seems unlikely to ruffle the Falcons’ feathers.
But A’s captain Shane Jones was content with what he considered an above-par score on day one of a Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association clash with finals implications at JK Grant Reserve on Saturday.
Every run was hard earned for the A’s due to difficult batting conditions that saw movement in the air and off the deck and a Falcons attack that offered little leverage.
Jones said similar conditions on the second day would make for a tricky run chase for the visiting Falcons.
“It was a really tough deck to bat on, so we thought par would be 150 or 160,” he said.
“To get 180 on that deck was a really good effort.
“It was swinging and seaming a fair bit all day. They bowled really good lines and lengths and made it tough for us.”
The A’s were in trouble at 2-7 before the competition’s leading runscorer, Aaron Maynard, joined Jones at the crease.
They put on 45 for the third wicket to restore order.
Maynard (26) would soon be followed back to the pavilion by Jones (30).
Those three quick wickets had the A’s on the back foot at 7-105.
Allrounder Lee Elmore came to the rescue with 44, getting valuable assistance from tailender Trent Smith (20no).
“Lee really toughed it out,” Jones said. “Towards the end of the day, he chanced his arm a little bit; he batted really well in that situation.”
The Falcons survived the final two overs of the day to be 0-1.
With the A’s having narrowly lost two of their past four matches and with their top-six berth under threat for the first time this calendar year, Jones is under no illusions about the importance of a successful finish to the game.
The Falcons are one of the sides striving to knock the A’s out of the finals.
“This game is essential,” he said. “We need to win; there’s no ifs or buts about it. The boys will have to bring their A-game to get a win and, hopefully, secure a finals spot.”
Elsewhere, Yarraville has been routed for 70, gifting first innings points to Croydon, which powered to 8-180 by stumps.
It would seem the Eagles will only have pride to play for when play resumes on Saturday.
Williamstown made a quickfire 5-232 before declaring after 58 overs against Sunshine at the Williamstown Cricket Ground.
The visitors are 2-20 in reply.
