Tara Murray
Yarraville is heading in the right direction as it comes off its best performance of the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association east-west season.
The Eagles stunned ladder leaders Spotswood in the first of the two-day games with a convincing win.
After making 7-263 on day one of the match, the Eagles restricted the Woodsmen to just 148, bowling them out in 49 overs.
Eagles playing coach Jonah Koch said it was nice to get a good win like that.
“We’re heading in the right direction,” he said.
“Making 263 at Yarraville which is always pretty flat, I thought was a good score. With 260 odd on the board we still had to bowl well.
“It was a good team effort, everyone contributed with the bat and then everyone with the ball.”
Koch was more than happy to bowl the Woodsmen out for just 148. Taylor Tatterson scored 65 at the top of the order, but he was one of only a couple of batters to get going.
Koch was the pick of the bowlers, taking 5-43 off his 14.3 overs.
“I think everyone played their role and executed the game plan,” he said.
The win moves the Eagles to 11th spot, two games outside the top six. Spotswood remains on top, but is joined by Box Hill on the same amount of points.
For Koch and the Eagles, the key for the rest of the season is having consistency across the board, which they saw in this game.
“Aidan [Salvado] is opening the batting and has been really good,” he said.
“We need a few others to continue to contribute and not relying on one bloke to do it. Last week we saw the majority getting 30s or 40s.
“With the ball we need to all chip in and do our bit.”
The performance of Salvado this season has made him one of the breakout players of the season.
He had made two 100s and five 50s in 10 games having made 606 runs for the season at an average of 86.57.
Last season in 11 games he made 171 in total.
Koch said they weren’t surprised by the rise of Salvado this season.
“Aidan’s taken his game to a level a lot of people thought he could,” he said. “He’s enjoying his cricket and has been putting in the work.
“He doesn’t throw his wicket away and takes his opportunities. Hopefully he finishes off the year well and no doubt there’s a couple more 100s out there for him.”
Koch said despite sitting outside the top six, they hadn’t given up on finals and that remained their goal.
In other matches, Williamstown lost to Hoppers Crossing.
Chasing 295, the Cats finished 7-297 with eight balls remaining. Sanka Abeyruwan made 71 not out.
Fraser Hay was the pick of the bowlers for the Seagulls with three wickets.
Altona slipped outside the top six with a loss to Werribee.
Having made 133, the A’s needed early wickets on day two.
The Tigers resumed at 2-38 and were able to get the job done, finishing with 163.
Adam Yates took 5-59 for the A’s.
