It’s been a tough start to the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association east-west season for Williamstown, but reinforcements are on the way.
The Seagulls have had a couple of big losses in the first few rounds and suffered another loss on Saturday to Balwyn.
Seagulls Jordan Doyle said they always knew that the start of the season was going to be tough for the side.
“We’ve had some unavailability and we’ve played the top three sides,” he said. “We will start to get some troops back.
“Matt Dervan has been our best bat for a number of years. He’s our number three and leading run scorer.
“George Pinkney should be back this week and hopefully Brenton Hodges is not too far away.”
Doyle said they hadn’t been able to put a competitive total on the board and the return of Dervan and Hodges would help with that.
He said they didn’t play well in round one, while in round two Noble Park got the better of the conditions.
On Saturday, the Seagulls showed in patches what they can do.
They won the toss and decided to bat.
After being in trouble at 2-16 for the Seagulls middle order showed some resistance.
The Seagulls managed 8-150 from their overs. Doyle top scored with 47.
Balwyn made light work of the total, getting the runs with more than 20 overs remaining. It finished 4-154.
Joel Rocco took two wickets for the Seagulls.
Doyle said at 4-90 they were in the game but weren’t able to finish it off.
“Scott Edwards, their international player, closed out the game quickly,” he said.
“We haven’t bowled well yet. We bowled two sides of the wickets. We got it right for a few overs, but we couldn’t do it consistently.
“We haven’t seen our number one bowling attack in the same game yet, hopefully that happens this week.”
The Seagulls have used the opportunity with players out to blood some younger players.
There’s been four guys under-19 who have been playing first XI games.
Antone Harb, who got some experience last season, is opening the batting.
Fifteen-year-old Keshav Kaushik made 135 in his first second XI game before earning promotion into the first XI.
Doyle said they had some really winnable games coming up, starting this week against Croydon.
In other matches, Yarraville, Altona and Spotswood all suffered losses.
The Eagles made 8-173 from their overs which Bayswater chased down in the 42nd over, finishing 5-175.
Noble Park made 186 as it was bowled out with two and a bit overs remaining against Spotswood.
The Woodsmen never got close as they were skittled for just 64.
Mt Waverley made 7-194 from its overs, with Altona bowled out with seven balls remaining for 174.
