It was all going to plan for Taylors Lakes until Yarraville’s spinners were introduced.
In their sub-district cricket match at Yarraville Oval on Saturday, the Lions had their sights on a total of more than 250, but their ambitions did not match the reality and they were rolled for 191 in 64.3 overs.
Lions coach Kris McMullin lamented the impatience of his batsmen against Yarraville spinners Akshat Buch (4-58) and Nathan Allen (3-49).
They put the clamps on Taylors Lakes, which had started promisingly, only to fall away when the slow bowlers took control.
“We got off to a terrific start – I think we were 1-80 and 2-120 and at that stage we were looking at a 250-plus score,” McMullin said. “Their spinners came on reasonably early, around the 25th over.
“They bowled really tight and their captain set really good fields … we lost a little bit of patience.”
The turning point in the day was the dismissal of Taylors Lakes captain Michael Brne. The aggressive opener had advanced to 98 before he was involved in an ugly run-out.
“It was his call and both runners ended up at the same end,” McMullin said.
“The unselfish person that he is, he stepped back to go to the other end and was run out. That was probably the real change in the game.
“It was a good innings [by Brne] and I’m really disappointed for him that he couldn’t get those extra two because he deserved a hundred.”
Shaun Guerra, who opened with Brne, made only 14, but featured in a 60-run opening stand to give Taylors Lakes a good platform. Yoshan Kumara chipped in 20 and Jarrod Wakeling made a valuable 18 not out late to give the Lions a total that could be defended.
If Taylors Lakes is to make it four wins in five starts and avoid a banana peel against a winless Yarraville, which has already picked 47 runs for the loss of one wicket, it will need to take a leaf out of the home side’s book.
“Yarraville were first-class in the field,” McMullin said. “Their ground fielding was terrific and they held their catches.
“If we’re to win the game, we’ve got to be just as good in the field.”
