SPOTSWOOD’S top-order batsmen had commitment phobia on day one of a two-day date with St Bernard’s Old Collegians in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division at Donald McLean Reserve on Saturday.
The Woodsmen eked out a competitive 201 in 79.1 overs, but it could have been a whole lot more commanding if their recognised batsmen had built on their positive starts.
The culprits included Abhijeet Sharma (29), Khalid Sawas (25), Matt Leddin (12) and David Buysen (11), who couldn’t go on to hurt the visitors after bright starts.
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“You start to get into the 20s, you expect them to go on with it,” Woodsmen coach Haydn Fletcher told the Weekly.
But the Woodsmen are still happy with their position at stumps on day one.
It was not the easiest pitch to score runs on.
And for those under the green and gold caps, the forecast was looking a bit gloomy at 7-110.
“Considering the start we had, I think the boys did well to dig deep and get to 200,” Fletcher said. “It doesn’t sound like a lot considering we batted out for more or less 80 overs, but I don’t think it’s the kind of wicket you can make a lot of runs on because the pitch is quite variable.”
The Woodsmen averted disaster after the tail wagged with two important partnerships.
The first saw Michael Knight (20) combine with Andrew Butler (47) for an innings-turning 42-run eighth wicket stand.
If St Bernard’s thought the end was near when Knight was trapped lbw, they didn’t take into consideration the tremendous fight in Butler, who managed a 45-run ninth wicket stand with Ashley Robertson (21) before being dismissed.
VTCA:
Senior division: Spotswood 201 (AJ Butler 47 A Sharma 29 K Sawas 25) v St. Bernard’s OC, Beaumaris 3-123 (M Boglis 2-39) v Yarraville Club 118 (A Cullen 41 G Tippett 25no).
North division: Williamstown CYMS 245 (B Davies 72 F Henry 30 PR Murray 28 C Guerrera 4-71 M Saunders 3-50) v Altona North 1-9, Footscray United 189 (S McKay 92 DC Silva 29 W Haffenden 25) v Doutta Stars 1-54, Laverton 152 (AC Williamson 52) v Youlden Parkville 4-37 (M Smith 2-9).
North A1: Seddon 3-180 (TJ Grant 81no DC Udugamasooriya 70 J Procko 25) v East Keilor 94 (T Matkovic 4-45 T Weerasinghe 2-10 Z Markovski 2-18), PEGS 6-401dec (J Singh 2-67 M Davies-Bing 2-85) v Altona Roosters 2-20.
West B1: Barkly Street Uniting 269 (D Williams 75 J Tran 67 A Narula 42 A Hoang 29 A McMahon 28 D Veteha 3-44 J Wills 3-70 J Everest 2-30) v Footscray ANA 3-39 (L Danaher 2-13), Sunshine YCW 305 (D Shanahan 5-77 M Vo 2-48) v Kingsville Baptists.
