Tara Murray
Altona North bounced back and returned to the winners list in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association division 1 on Saturday.
In a competition that is proving to be close, every match is important in the lead up to the Christmas break.
On Saturday, Altona North accounted for bottom side Tullamarine.
Altona North coach Ian Denny said it was a good performance but they still had areas that they could improve on.
Altona North made 4-205 from its overs with Luke Rainone top scoring with 75.
“We got off to a good start before we lost a couple of quick wickets,” he said. “Luke and Buddhi Samarawickrama then really controlled the innings.
“We would have liked to have got a few more runs on the board having been 2-92 at the halfway mark. We would have liked 230.”
Denny said they had moments with the ball, but were eventually able to get the job done, restricting the Demons to 8-179.
“We bowled OK at times,” he said. “One of their guys got away from us. We got a bit of a break which went our way and with tight bowling late we forced them to make errors.”
It was all single wicket takers for Altona North.
Denny said at times it had been challenging this season, their second season in division 1.
“We’re getting better,” he said. “We haven’t got any international players, with most other sides in the competition having two or three.
“It’s a really strong competition and we’ve got a lot of home grown guys, some who have come back to the club.”
Denny said in this competition, it only takes a couple of quality players to get away with the bat and then it’s game over.
Altona North sits 3-4 in seventh spot with one round left before the Christmas break.
Denny said they would have liked to have been sitting a little bit better at this time of the season.
“We would have liked to be in a better position, but the competition is so close,” he said.
“A drop catch could change a game.”
In other results, Seddon was beaten by Sunshine.
Sunshine made 9-152 before bowling Seddon out for just 61.
In senior division, the Druids lost to Aberfeldie.
The Druids made 7-186 from their overs, with Aberfeldie finishing 5-188 in reply.
Yarraville Club was too strong for Keilor.
Keilor struggled with the bat, making 8-118. The Clubbers finished 4-123 in reply.
Ashley Sweet took four wickets for the Clubbers, while Chinthaka Jayasinghe was their top scorer with 35.
The Clubbers sit third on the ladder, while the Druids are in eighth spot.
In division 2, Newport-Digman beat Royal Park-Brunswick, Footscray United continued its run with Williamstown CYMS, West Newport was too good for Kingsville and the Altona Roosters accounted for the Greenvale Kangaroos.
