By Tara Murray
The best is still to come for Deer Park in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division this season.
The Lions sit second after the first part of the season, with just one loss, but haven’t been able to fully put it all together.
Coach Mick Andriadis said they were hoping it would all come together before the season is out.
“It’s going not too bad,” he said. “We’re going alright with just one loss.
“We are all jostling for spots and trying to play good cricket before Christmas. We’ve had some good games, and a couple not so good.
“We are in second spot and trying to chase down Yarraville Club.”
The Lions match against the Clubbers before Christmas was called off after day one, with the game evenly poised.
Andriadis said they had been a benchmark for a number of years and a side they were keen to beat them before the season is out.
He is hoping that the back part of the season they can get a bit more consistency and playing regularly after a number of matches were washed out.
On Saturday, the Lions returned to the field after the Christmas break with a two-dayer against Sunshine United.
The Lions won the toss and decided to bat. They were bowled out for 224 in the 62nd over.
Hashan Wanasekara top scored with 67 at the top of the order.
Andriadis said it wasn’t their best performance and that the Tigers bowled well.
“It wasn’t as many as we would have liked,” he said. “We’ll have to make sure we bowl them out now.
“We were hoping for a few more runs, but we didn’t bat our overs out, which was disappointing.
“It was the first game back after the break, maybe we were still in holiday mode.”
Tigers captain-coach James Muirhead was the pick of the bowlers, taking 4-51.
Sunshine United will resume at 0-21 after getting through 21 overs unscathed.
Leigh Sheridan was 15 not out and Scott Dalrymple on four not out.
Andriadis said things were going well across the rest of the club.
In other senior division matches, Keilor needs early wickets on day two against Yarraville Club.
The Blues were bowled out for 166, with the Clubbers finishing the day at 0-19. Matthew Gaskett top scored with 39 for the Blues.
St Albans has a big run chase on its hands against Airport West St Christophers.
The Eagles made 316 as they were bowled out in the final over of the day. Akila Isanka took five wickets for the Saints.
Sydenham-Hillside finished day one at 4-275 against Craigieburn with only 70.3 overs having been bowled.
Anthony Alleyne made 139 off 179 balls for the Storm.
