Tara Murray
Sunshine Heights got an early Christmas present with a first win of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association division 3 season on Saturday.
After a tough start to the season, the Heights upset Caroline Springs with a pretty convincing win.
Heights coach Wayne Miller said they had been building towards a performance like this.
“It was really great to get the win,” he said.
“We’ve been gelling as a team. The result was a full group, great team effort.
“Everyone played their roles which was something we spoke about before the game.”
Miller said that Caroline Springs, which is fighting for a top four spot, might have underestimated them going into the game.
The Falcons won the toss and decided to bat. They were bowled out for 173 in the 40th over.
Miller said they would have taken that at the start of the day.
“Everyone said on par on that ground was over 200, so it was a good job to keep them to 173.
“We had two really good run outs that changed the game and two fantastic catches.”
Greg Shawcross took four wickets, while import Sameera Wellage in his first game for the club took three wickets.
The Heights started well and were never in trouble, finishing 2-175 in the 31st over.
Mohsin Abbas top scored with 84 at the top of the order.
“We got off to a great start with Abbas getting 80,” Miller said.
“Then a couple got in the runs as well. We played consistently for a good 70 overs, which we hadn’t been doing.
“We need to do that, it’s slow progress.”
Miller said the arrival of Wellage was a big boost for the side, with his experience going to be vital for the young team.
While Saturday was Wellage’s first official match for the club, he was part of their side they faced a navy side on Thursday nightl.
Miller said that match, which they won, gave them plenty of momentum which they took into Saturday.
The Heights are now ninth on the ladder after eight rounds.
Miller said they were hoping this was the turning point of their season.
“We’ve got the Christmas break and now we’ll take some momentum into the new year,” he said.
“We want to play consistent cricket and focus on that. We only have one more one-dayer, before the rest of the season is two-dayers.
“That suits us a bit better and we’ll keep on building as a team and make sure everyone plays their roles.”
Grand United sits on top at the break in division 3. On Saturday, the Gorillas beat Pascoe Vale Hadfield.
Pascoe Vale made 9-146, before Grand United made 3-148 in reply.
In senior division, Keilor suffered a loss to Craigieburn.
The Blues made 166, with the Eagles making the runs six wickets down.
St Albans got a key win against Westmeadows in a high scoring match. The Saints made 3-224 in reply to the Warriors 5-218.
Aberfeldie beat Sunshine United, while Deer Park beat Yarraville Club.
