By Lance Jenkinson
Altona Roosters have transformed from the underdogs to what punters would call a good thing at the halfway mark of the four-day Victorian Turf Cricket Association division 2 grand final.
The Roosters have been the hunters for most of the summer, sneaking into the finals in fourth spot and having to hit the road for their semi-final and grand final battles, but they now have the target on their back for the most important weekend in the season.
After bowling hot favourites Glenroy out for just 65, the Roosters piled on the runs to post 205 for a first innings lead of 140.
Glenroy’s outlook was not looking much brighter as it went to stumps on day two on 2-23, still 117 runs in arrears.
Roosters’ captain Ash Peters could not have envisaged a better start to the big dance.
“Glenroy have been the benchmark,” he said.
“We knew we had to bowl and field well yesterday, so it was an awesome effort from the team.
“We just backed each other in whatever the scenario.
“If any chances came, we’d take them, all our bowlers got us off to a good start early and kept the ball rolling.”
It truly was a team effort with the ball for Altona Roosters as every one of the Roosters six bowlers made a meaningful contribution.
Photo Gallery: Altona Roosters vs Glenroy
Off spinner Sanjaya Fernando was the pick of the bunch though, finishing with incredible figures of 4-5 off 8.2 overs.
“He turned the game into our favour a little bit more,” Peters said.
“He always bowls to a plan, gives a bit of flight and then he’ll throw in a quicker one.
“He’s very reliable for us.”
Paceman Leigh Lewis set up the day for Altona with 2-12 off 10 overs.
Peters was similarly effective for the Roosters with his medium pace, taking 2-16 off 11.
Chris Dine chipped in to take 2-11 off six.
Small run chases can be tricky in cut-throat finals, but Altona passed the target with confidence.
The Roosters were three down when they began to amass a first innings lead.
Fernando was the Rooster who rubbed the most salt into the Glenroy wounds with a dashing 71 off 122 balls.
If the Roosters go on to win the flag, he will be the most valuable player in the grand final.
“To take 4-5 and make 71 was incredible,” Peters said. “He steadied the ship when we lost a few wickets.
“He just played to his strength and hit the bad balls and respected the good ones.”
Glenroy faced 20 overs late on day two to finish on 2-23.
Malith Cooray, the quickest bowler for Altona, did some late damage with 2-13 off six.
While the Roosters are in the box seat to
win the grand final, Peters knows the threat that Glenroy still poses, particularly with the ball.
The Roys star spinner Steve Goodwin, who has taken 61 wickets this summer, still looms as a match-winner if his side can get any sort of lead.
“He had 55 wickets coming into the game and took another six-for this game,” Peters said. “He’s an incredible spinner, so it would be nice to bowl them out without batting again, but we’ll still back ourselves to get the runs if we have to bat again.”
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