By Tara Murray
It was a bit of déjà vu early for Yarraville Club in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division grand final.
The four day grand final kicked off on Saturday, with the match up that everyone had been anticipating, Yarraville Club and Deer Park.
It was Deer Park that took the bragging rights after day one on Saturday.
Day two on Sunday was washed out, making the grand final a three day contest.
The Lions won the toss and decided to bowl in warm conditions.
While the Lions were taking a risk, it was one that Clubbers captain-coach Mitch Johnstone said he would have done too.
“It was no surprise with the forecast,” Johnstone said. “Obviously with the weather it changes the conditions and overs and becomes test match conditions.
“I think I would have made the same decision at the toss as well.”
After struggling with the bat early in their semi final win, the Clubbers were again in trouble early against the Lions.
At 3-20 it was a case a déjà vu for Johnstone after being three down early the previous week.
“Very much so,” he said. “We were able to fight back but we couldn’t get the extra score we wanted on the board.
“We are a bit behind the eight ball. Hopefully we can rustle up something to challenge them.”
Johnstone said some of their top order would regret some of their shots which saw them headed back to the shed.
Viraj Lakshitha put on 82 in the middle of the order to help get the Clubbers to a decent score.
Johnstone said they are pretty hard on Lakshitha as they believe he could be one of the top five players in the competition which he showed on Saturday.
Nandhalal Sangaran provided support with 35 before Johnstone and Josh Eaton made some late runs to push the total to 184.
Johnstone said they know that is under par for their ground.
The Lions finished 0-14 at stumps.
With day two called off, it gives the Clubbers bowlers an extra week to recover from a few niggles.
“You need a bit of luck in finals,” Johnstone said. “[Matt] Doric is struggling with an injury, that is no secret.
“Deer Park would be the same with their own issues, it equals up. The extra week for some r and r will be good and hopefully we can keep them to less than 180.”
Johnstone said he expects both teams this week to be aggressive in the quest to claim the premiership.
“It’s a middle target that is hard to chase,” he said. “There will be tight infidels and we need to minimise the scoring.
“There’s still two days to play. If it doesn’t go our way, it won’t be through a lack of effort.”
