By Tara Murray
Sunshine YCW stole victory from the hands of defeat in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association Evans-Clark Shield on Saturday.
Coming off their first loss of the season, the Cougars were keen to bounce back against Laverton on Saturday in a one-dayer.
For large parts, the Cougars looked like they didn’t have enough runs on the board.
But experience shone through when it was needed, as they came away with the win.
Cougars secretary Rory O’Connor said it was a really good win in the end but it didn’t look like it would be the case.
“Towards the end I was concerned that we were not going to get the win,” he said. “There was a complete turn of events.
“We got a brilliant run out and Max Weise did what he does best. It was a good win to bounce back.”
The Cougars won the toss and elected to bat. They finished their innings at 9-166. Heshan Umendra top scored with 38.
O’Connor said they weren’t sure that they had enough runs on the board and knew they had to bowl well to get the win.
In the end it was just enough.
At 6-159, Laverton seemed destined to claim the win, needing eight runs and with four wickets in hand.
The Cougars got a run out and then were able to get three more wickets without Laverton scoring.
It resulted in Laverton bowled out for 159 and the Cougars claiming the win.
O’Connor said when the whips were cracking their experience was able to come to the fore.
Weise finished with three wickets, including two of the last four, while Connor Marum and Matthew Williams took two each.
The win keeps the Cougars in second spot after nine rounds.
O’Connor said they’re continuing to take it one week at a time as they hope to build in the back part of the season.
“We’ve felt off field things haven’t been the best with having our best first XI available,” he said.
“There’s pressure for spots coming up from our second XI. They are coming up and performing each week.
“Each week we are having different people step up and we’re not relying on one or two players.’
O’Connor said the aim at the start of the season for a lot of people at the club was to make finals after coming up from division 5.
He said they would keep focusing on their game and see where it takes them.
In other results, Deer Park, Keilor and Sydenham-Hillside got wins in the senior division against Westmeadows, Sunshine United and Airport West St Christophers. St Albans suffered a loss to Yarraville Club, with the Clubbers getting the winning runs with one ball remaining.
Deer Park remains in second with Sydenham-Hillside in third. Keilor is now only a game outside the top four.
