SUNSHINE’S fragility with the bat was exposed and not for the first time in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association.
The Crows were skittled for just 135 by a fast and fired-up Ormond on a stunning Saturday at Dempster Park.
Crows captain Troy Stone told the Weekly there was a little more life in the deck than he expected when he won the toss.
“We elected to bat thinking it was a good deck,” he said. “There turned out to be a little bit in it for their quicks.
“They had four genuine quicks who bowled really well and put us on the back foot.”
Ormond was predictable with its short-of-a-length bowling. The Monders persisted with it and it would be the downfall of more than half of the Crows batsmen.
“It was different bowling to what we’ve come across in the Subbies before,” Stone said.
“I’ve never come across a side that pretty much bowled three or four bouncers an over to us.
“Full credit to them, it worked.”
Kane Twentyman top-scored for the Crows with 19.
His got-a-start-and-couldn’t-go-on-with-it tale had a familiar ring to it. “We had a 19, a 17, two 15s and a 13,” Stone said.
“It was a pitch that you could never feel comfortable being in on.
“We just needed one bloke to go on and make a 40 or 50.”
James Leach, a youngster eligible to play under-17s, might have been that player, but ran out of partners.
He featured in late stands with wicketkeeper Matt Stone (13) and Justin Summerfield (11) to give the Crows bowlers something to defend.
“He (Leach) faced a barrage of good short bowling from the opposition and stood up pretty well,” Stone said.
“The last three wickets put up about 50 runs which was important.”
The Crows made an impressive start with the ball to have Ormond 2-10 before the visitors settled to be 3-69 at stumps.
Laka Khan, who arrived via local Williamstown and District Cricket Association club Grand United, had a memorable debut.
His first scoring shot was a six straight down the ground and followed it up with two early wickets.
“He’s a talented player, has a bit of pace behind him and just takes wickets,” Stone said.
“He’s an aggressive batsman and if he bats over, he’ll get runs.”
While the odds are stacked against the Crows, Stone said his side should not be discounted.
“I’ve seen enough in the pitch for our bowlers if it’s similar next week,” he said.
“Get an early wicket and we can put the pressure right on them.”
SCOREBOARD
Firsts: Sunshine 135 v Ormond 3-69.
Seconds: Sunshine 126 v Ormond 4-120.
Thirds: Plenty Valley 382 v Sunshine.
Fourths: Plenty Valley 7-213 v Sunshine 37.
