Yarraville Club came out breathing fire against Keilor in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division at Keilor Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
The top-of-the-ladder Clubbers were eager to atone for a rare loss the week prior and hit back to pave the way for what should be a comfortable win on the second day.
The Clubbers rolled Keilor for just 152 in 54 overs and responded with 1-64 to require just 89 runs for a first innings victory.
“The boys were pretty spot on from the get go,” Clubbers player-coach Justin Baker said.
“To come out with that sort of result after day one, we’re reasonably happy, the boys did well.”
Emmett Bronca led the way for Yarraville Club with 3-30 off 14 overs.
Bronca and new ball partner Hussain Hanif, who took 1-16 off eight overs, set the tone with some sharp bowling.
It was Bronca’s consistency that put a smile on the face of his teammates.
“To see ‘Broncs’ bounce back to way that he did was great,” Baker said.
“He bowled very tight and found his length.”
Adam Contessa picked up a handy 2-2 off four overs for Yarraville Club, while there was a wicket apiece for Will Sheridan, Joey Blake and Konrad Kurta.
The Clubbers lost Jonathon Blake for one with the score on 1-4, before James Damjanovski (25 not out) and Kurta (24 not out) combined for 60 to take the score to 1-64 at stumps.
“Credit to Keilor’s bowlers, they really put us under the pump for those 26 overs late in the day,” Baker said.
There was a bit of drama when Damjanovski was given out caught by the central umpire. With Damjanovski on his way to the pavilion, the umpires convened and recalled him back.
“The decision got overturned and that’s something I’ve never seen in all my years of playing cricket,” Baker said.
“He copped a short one, he went to pull it and it hit him on the forearm and was caught by the fielder. The bowling end umpire gave it out, but the square leg umpire said it clearly hit him on the forearm and called him back.”
Elsewhere, Spotswood has made a strong start against Doutta Stars at McLean Reserve. The Woodsmen bowled the Stars out for 183 and made 1-36 before stumps.
Seddon faces an interesting clash with Strathmore at Hanmer Reserve. The Dockers are 5-69 in response to the Mores’ 124.
In north west division, Druids and Laverton are locked in a tussle at Laverton Park. Druids could only manage 178, but hit back with two late wickets to leave Laverton at 2-10.
Altona North has plenty of work to do after posting just 153 against West Coburg at Morris McDonald Reserve.
The Burgers are 0-18 in their run chase.
In the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association, Altona had a massive 179-run win over Preston at Frank Kirk Oval to keep its finals flame flickering. The A’s posted 9-336 on the back of twins tons from import Charlie Best (134) and Shane Jones (113).
Shannon Clarke took 4-18 off 14.3 to leave Preston in ruins, all out for 157.
Williamstown moved up to second with an win over St Bernard’s at the Murphy Oval.
Holding a 35-run lead on first innings, the Seagulls bowled out St Bernard’s for 156, leaving themselves 122 for victory. The Seagulls passed the target in the 29th over with three wickets in hand.
Yarraville had a monster run chase, passing Plenty Valley’s 8-296 in the last over of the day.
Eagles captain Matthew Love made 115, while Joe Billings (50) and Bradley Shaw (51) made half centuries.
