ALTONA was caught hopping around in the early overs of the opening day against Brighton on the road at Brighton Beach Oval in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association on Saturday.
The A’s struggled against the new ball to be 3-21 before a middle-order fightback was instigated by young English import Josh Wells.
“The ball was jagging around a bit early,” A’s captain John Varchione told the Weekly. “It was a tough period and we were unable to get through it.”
Wells had the scorers on alert en route to 62.
The teenager featured in partnerships with the experienced Lee Elmore (17) and young Chris Peters (5).
Peters, in his first top-flight game, occupied the crease for long enough to ensure Wells could do some damage at the other end.
The pair put on 44 for the fifth wicket to see the A’s through to 5-98.
Wells, with four fours and a six, brought up his second half-century of the summer.
With scores of 62, 59 and 33 (twice), the No.4 batsman is proving to be a real find for the A’s.
“But for him, we’d be in a lot of trouble,” Varchione said.
“He’s a very good driver of the ball on both sides of the wicket.
“He looks like a cricketer when he plays . . . just real good, clean cricket shots. He’s only 18 and he’s going to get better. I think he’s going to turn into a really good player.”
The A’s went in search of trouble and found it once more. They lost 5-10 to be in all sorts of strife at 9-108.
It took youngsters Stefan Sidari and Jake Duff — both of whom have played in A’s under-17 team this season — to put on 40 for the last wicket and give their side an ever-so-slight chance of victory.
“Their 40 for the last wicket has given us something to bowl at,” Varchione said.
“They batted really well, especially Sidari. It’s almost as if he’s been playing (first XI cricket) for the last couple of years. He’s really coming on nicely.”
Brighton was 1-21 in reply at stumps.
In other matches, Yarraville (8-245) has set Malvern a big target after its leaders Tim McRae (95 not out) and Alex Hewet (77) had a day out at the Malvern City Oval.
Williamstown (1-36) requires a further 122 with nine wickets in hand for victory over Roxburgh Park-Broadmeadows at the Williamstown Cricket Ground.
