Tara Murray
Sunshine YCW did its Victorian Turf Cricket Association Russell Pollock Shield finals hopes no harm with victory against Barkly St Uniting on Saturday.
After falling outside the top four after a loss last up, the YCWs needed to get back on the winners list against the second top team to keep in touch.
A strong bowling performance had the Dragons bowled out for just 171, but the YCWs lost two late wickets to put them on the backfoot heading into day two.
Early on day two, the YCWs were soon in trouble at 4-39, but they were able to steady on the back of Heshan Umendra,
The middle order batter made 102 not out at a run a ball, to guide his side to victory. The YCWs finished 6-185.
Secretary Rory O’Connor said the club is in a good position at this point of the season.
“We had two wins, ones and twos,” he said. “We’re really rapt, it’s been a great year so far with a lot of improvement on the field this year.
“There’s a lot more to come for the club. Finals are the goal of the club and we’re in a good position going into the last month.”
O’Connor said the bond that had grown between the playing group had been the key to the improvement on the field.
He said coach Lachie Lewin is leading the way.
“The playing group has come together,” he said. “There’s a strong bond between all the players.
“Lachie has been fantastic in driving the culture change. The vibe has been really good at training and there’s been more laughing and throwing arms around each other.
“If we can keep doing that we’re in a really good place.”
O’Connor said the development of the younger guys who have had opportunities the past few seasons was really starting to show through.
He said despite being a couple of wickets down heading into day two against the Dragons, there was no panic.
“To keep the second placed side to 175, we had done the hard work to keep them to a low total,” he said.
“We knew we were still a chance [despite losing those two wickets] Heshan made an important 100 to get the boys over the line.”
The win moves the YCWs back into the top four at the expense of Barkly St Uniting.
O’Connor said the key for them in the run home is to have confidence in their own ability to handle the tough situations.
“We’ve been in these situation before,” he said. “We need to be back ourselves in those situations that we have overcome in the past.”
In other matches, Burnside Springs United further cemented its spot in the top four with an outright win against Seabrook.
In senior division, Deer Park continued on its winning ways, Keilor beat Westmeadows, St Albans lost to Sydenham-Hillside, while Sunshine United lost outright to Craigieburn.
