If only Keilor coach Mick Andreadis had the power to speed up time, it may solve the problems facing the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division’s bottom-of-the-ladder club.
The Blues have taken the brave step of promoting a number of teenagers this season and most have shown potential to suggest they’ll be around the first XI for years to come.
But with a young team you get teething problems and raw youngsters probably won’t succeed immediately in the competitive senior division.
Time and experience, can’t be bought and this inexperience may cost Keilor it’s place in the VTCA’s top tier. So the Blues, with only a faint hope of survival hope, simply have to win the match against Strathmore on the road at Syd McGain Oval.
Batting first on a flat deck on Saturday, they missed a golden opportunity to gain the upper hand.
A solid start, a kick-along from the middle order and a healthy run rate got the Blues to 238.
But they lost wickets at regular intervals along the way and getting bowled with 62 balls left on the table meant missing out on a possible late flurry of runs that could have batted the Mores out of the game.
Andreadis put it down to a lack of awareness of the situation by a young outfit.
“If we had a bit of experience, we would’ve batted the 80 overs and the score should’ve been six or seven for 300 and it’s a different ball game,” he said.
Hans Fernando was the top-scorer for Keilor with an exquisite 60 at second wicket down.
“From 10 to 50, he batted really well, and if he had’ve stayed in, we would’ve got 300,” Andreadis said. “He threw his wicket away . . . the tea break got him.”
Shaun Guerra piled on 44, while teenagers Jarryd Clements (40) and Lachie Sneddon (30) gave a glimpse into the future.
“There’s plenty of upside, we just need a bit of time,” Andreadis said.
The Mores were 0-24 at stumps.
