Tara Murray
Yarraville Club got itself back on top after a patchy batting display against the Druids in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division on Saturday.
In an important game in the context of finals, the Clubbers were hoping to put a big score on the board after batting first on day one of the clash.
The Clubbers though were bowled out for 191 in the 62nd over.
Clubbers captain-coach Mitch Johnstone said they were disappointed to have been bowled out for that total.
“It was a strange old day,” he said.
“We were 2-22 when Michael Hill and CJ [Chinthaka Jaysinghe] batted really well to get us on top. Hilly would have been disappointed to be out just after tea.
“We then had a batting collapse with some average shots. There was a minor fight back from Ash [Sweet] and Jacko [Jackson Martin].”
Jaysinghe top scored with 72 and Hill chipped in with 55.
Andrew Brennan took four wickets for the Wizards.
Johnstone said while they were disappointed with the total, he said the score was still a pass mark on that ground.
“The outfield was slow,” he said. “We were more disappointed with the score from the aspect where we were.
“Looking objectively it’s a par score on that ground and it will be their highest score of the season if they chase it down.”
A fired up Clubbers bowled 15 overs at the end of day one and made the most of it. The Wizards will resume at 4-20.
Sweet has three of those wickets.
Johnstone said they were hoping to get the wickets early on day two and then spent the day batting.
“We’re in the box seat,” Johnstone said. “It’s always a good match against them and they’ve had the wood on us in recent years.”
For the Clubbers, Johnstone said they still had plenty of upside to come as they aim for a second successive premiership.
He said they keep talking as a playing group that they are yet to play their best cricket.
“We’ve had a couple of games where we’ve just gone down,’ he said. “We lost to Sydenham [Hillside] by 10 runs and lost to Westmeadows in the final over.
“We’ve had a few personnel out either side of Christmas. We were in a similar position at this time last year.”
While firmly focused on finals, the Clubbers continue to blood youngsters coming through.
The club has had seven debutants this season, including two 16-year-olds and a 15-year-old.
.”We have Mathieson King and Martin playing most weeks as well,” he said. “It speaks of the team as well.
“It’s a point of difference we have to other teams, with more teenagers playing week by week.”
