By Tara Murray
It was a day for the bowlers on Saturday as Sunshine Heights and Kingsville took to the field for the Colin Cass Cup.
The Victorian Turf Cricket Association Roy Picone Shield battle is for more than points as the two clubs fight for the cup over two weekends.
Cass is a life member at both clubs and will be in attendance on day two to present it to the winning team.
Heights president Giulio Venditti said it was unusual to have someone who is a life member at two different clubs which made the cup unqiue.
“We were able to get a few people down from Kingsville to watch the game,” he said. “We managed to bring the cup back last year after not playing each other for a number of years.
“Colin will be there to present the cup and hopefully to us.”
At Ainsworth Reserve on Saturday, there was plenty of excitement as the wickets fell all day.
Heights won the toss and decided to bat in the warm conditions.
Runs were hard to come by as the Heights was bowled out for 110 in the 63rd over.
Sixteen-year-old Atharv Sawant top scored with 38 at the top of the order as only four batters reached double figures.
Venditti said they’d had their issues with the bat this season as their young side got used to batting at this level.
“We’ve got a lot of kids in their first year of senior cricket,” he said. “They have done well and more than we would have expected.
“They’ve been competitive and executed well enough.”
The Heights bowlers though gave their side some hope as they had Kingsville in trouble at 4-48 at stumps.
Hayden Roshier has three of Heights wickets.
Vendetti said they needed to get those wickets to give some confidence heading into day two with a win crucial.
The result is crucial for both sides as the season hits the pointy end.
Heading into the match, only percentage separated Kingsville in sixth spot and Sunshine Heights, which is bottom.
Vendetti said they were determined to stay in division 3.
“We’ve lost the last two games and gone from fifth to 10th,” he said. “That’s how close the competition is.
“We’re one game out of being in the finals race and another game short of possible relegation.”
In other matches, Keilor Park is 1-32 in reply to Pascoe Vale Hadfield’s 178.
Meanwhile in the senior division, Sunshine United made 196 against Airport West St Christophers and St Albans made 8-310 against Keilor.
There was no score for Sydenham-Hillside and Deer Park’s match.
In the Isaacs Howarth Shield, Sunshine is 3-71 in reply to Oak Park St Francis de Sales’ 111, while PEGS has already conceded first innings points against Haig Fawkner.
