Tara Murray
Sunshine was able to overcome a disastrous start with the bat to get a crucial win in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association division 1.
With several matches not going ahead on day two due to rain, the Crows result against PEGS became even more important.
Needing 241 for victory, the Crows were in trouble at 4-17 with Kaushal Lokuarachchi among those back in the sheds.
But some positive batting and some key partnerships got the Crows back into the game.
They ended up hitting the winning runs with more than 16 overs remaining, finishing 8-246.
Crows captain-coach Troy Stone said they felt on top for most of the batting innings despite the start they had.
“It was a great win,” he said. “We started off on the back foot, but we were able to develop some partnerships in the middle.
“We’re an experienced group, so we knew what to do.”
Stone said with the pitch the way it was, the aim was to continue to play their shots and bat really positively.
They did exactly that with most of the middle and lower order contributing.
“We made 90 for the seventh wicket partnership,” he said. “That really helped get us going.
“We just had to put the bad ball away for boundaries and put them on the back foot.
“We were going at four or five runs an over, so they essentially had to bowl us out to get the win.”
Selva Tharaka top scored with 88 for the Crows. Shakeem Clarke was the pick of the bowlers for PEGS with five wickets.
The match was one of three to get results in division 1, with two other matches ending in draws with no play on Saturday.
The Crows sit in third spot with two rounds remaining.
Stone said with several of the teams near them on the ladder not getting results, the win was even more important.
This week they face second placed St Francis de Sales, which suffered a shock loss to bottom side Tullamarine.
Stone said except for an upset loss to Tullamarine before Christmas they had been playing some good cricket.
He said they were happy with where they were sitting.
“We haven’t lost since Christmas, but cricket is a funny game,” he said. “Essentially it looks like [two-day cricket is suiting them], but everyone is looking to score and sides are being bowled out, it makes for interesting cricket.
“We’re happy with where the group is at guys finding form at the right time.
“Bowling has been our weakness, but we’re bowling sides out at the moment, but we’re always looking to improve.”
In other matches, there was no play in Sydenham-Hillside’s match with Seddon, but that result is being disputed.
In senior division, there was no play in any match with all matches declared as draws, but as of Sunday afternoon three of those results appear to be disputed.
Haig Fawkner disputes the result against Sunshine United due to the Tigers failing to cover the wicket and it was left uncovered and both umpires witnessed upon arrival on Saturday.
Westmeadows and Keilor’s match, and Deer Park’s Craigieburn’s matches results are also disputed according to MyCricket.
