YARRAVILLE has taken a winning record away from its three one-day games to start the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association after a four-wicket win over Brighton at Yarraville Oval on Saturday.
Last summer, the Eagles had to wait until after Christmas to make an impression in the wins column, but two wins from three starts has lifted expectations considerably at the Williamstown Road club.
Eagles player-coach Tim McRae is still not totally satisfied despite the vast improvement, believing his side could, and probably should, have a perfect record after a game that got away from them against Altona seven days earlier. “We’re just content,” he said.
“Last week was the game that we could’ve won and most people looking at the stats would say it was a game that we should’ve won.
“Today, we found ourselves in a similar position, but Bradley [Shaw] held his nerve and steered us home.”
Set 142 to win off 45 overs, the Eagles made a hesitant start to be 3-42 with recognised run-makers Daniel Saville, Matt Harrison and Adam Yates back in the pavilion.
A rock in an otherwise crumbly top order was Shaw, who featured in six partnerships on his way to 48.
Eagles president Graham Jarry lauded Shaw’s ability to “guts it out” when others found the going tough.
McRae praised Shaw’s “360-degree” shot-making that made it hard for an opposition captain to set a field.
“The kid batted for a long time and won us the game,” he said. “We were six down and he was still there.
“He batted right through the first half of the innings and virtually batted till the victory.”
Mathew O’Grady (23) and Ryan Cox (13no) provided the valuable late runs once Shaw was dismissed.
While the Eagles batsmen took all the glory at the end, it was their inspirational captain Alex Hewet who set it all up with the ball in the early hours.
Hewet has thrived under extra responsibilities that come with captaining a cricket side. The all-rounder is carrying his teammates on his shoulders and saying ‘follow me’.
The swing bowler built immense pressure for the third week running for a miserly return of 3-10 off nine overs.
All up, Hewet has taken 11 wickets for the concession of just 23 runs at extraordinary average of 2.1.
Let’s not forget, this has come in one-day games, where the batsmen have an attacking mindset.
“He’s led the way, absolutely,” McRae said. “He never bowls a bad line or length and it’s just difficult for any batsman, no matter how good they are, to drive him.
“He bowls at three slips and a gully and sometimes a catching position at short cover.”
The Eagles will meet Malvern in a two-dayer at the Malvern City Oval starting on Saturday.
VSDCA RESULTS
Firsts: Williamstown 3-90 d Malvern 89; Moorabbin 7-249 (Rathnayeke 89 no Pradeep 89) d Altona 168 (Maynard 70); Yarraville 6-143 d Brighton 141.
Seconds: Brighton 4-244 (Salter 121 no) d Yarraville 76; Moorabbin 9-214 (Munaweera 94) d Altona 6-167; Malvern 9-208 lt Williamstown 9-229 (G Sandars 68).
Thirds: Williamstown 4-158 d Kew 9-154; Yarraville 8-166 d Coburg 163; Altona 3-177 d Ivanhoe 174.
Fourths: Coburg 9-134 d Yarraville 104; Kew 5-135 d Williamstown 7-133; Ivanhoe 7-207 (Smith 118 no) d Altona 9-132.
