By Ewen McRae
A century opening stand has guided St Albans to a huge win in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division opener, knocking off reigning premier Yarraville Club on Saturday.
Chasing down the Clubbers 7-223 from last week, St Albans could not have asked for a better start as openers Brenton Cook and Simon Lambert laid the perfect platform with a 123-run partnership to start the day, allowing the middle order the freedom to chase down the target with plenty of time to spare, though not without some nervous moments.
The Saints eventually reached the target in the 72nd over, finishing on 8-223.
Cook and Lambert took up the challenge with aplomb, with Cook the aggressor while Lambert was more patient.
Will Sheridan was his usual tidy self with the new ball for the visitors, however Joseph Blake took some early punishment at the other end, with his four overs costing 26-runs and getting St Albans off to a good start.
Cook hit eight boundaries and two big sixes in his knock of 71 off just 104 balls, but when he was trapped in front by Adam Contessa (1-22) the visitors started to get back into the contest.
From 0-123, St Albans slipped to 5-161, with Chathura Darshana (4-85 off 26 overs) doing some damage.
Lambert was the third man out for a vital 60.
While the Clubbers had a sniff of a comeback win, a pair of 20s from Pawandeep Singh and captain Tom Langley-Dunn were enough to guide the Saints home and give them their first win in the top tier.
Elsewhere, a pair of 80s to Seddon batsmen Duleeka Thisakuttige and John Taylor was not enough to deliver them a win over local rivals Spotswood as the runs flowed on both days at Donald McLean Reserve.
Chasing Spotswood’s 5-311 from week one, Seddon were on the back foot early as Ben Speake (5) departed cheaply.
Damith Priyadarshana (40) got the innings going with some quick early runs, and when he was dismissed it was Arkii Van Wills (27) who gave support to Thisakuttige.
However, a couple of quick wickets to Spotswood turned the game in its favour.
Thisakuttige was eventually dismissed for 84 with more than 100 runs still needed for the win, and when Taylor was run out for 80 the task proved too great for the tail.
Spotswood was well served with the ball by Allan Wise, Gene Maurice and Matthew Sazenis, who picked up two wickets each.
Seddon will host Strathmore and Spotswood will travel to Keilor for this week’s first one-dayer of the season.
FOR MORE VTCA NEWS
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/openers-show-the-way/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/craigieburns-ideal-start/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/extra-pain-for-melton-south-royals/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/bellbridge-squares-ledger/
