Keilor quick Dan Schuppan is regarded as one of the premier bowlers in the VTCA’s senior division.
Schuppan half-jokingly tells his teammates how good his abilities are with bat in hand and that he should be considered for a higher spot in the order.
He failed to register a single score in double figures last summer, so you could forgive his teammates for taking his claims with a pinch of salt.
But Schuppan, who bats No.10, had everyone taking note as he dragged Keilor back into its clash with Greenvale Kangaroos at Greenvale Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
Schuppan put Keilor into a winning position as he racked up 32 in quick time.
For all the heroics, he didn’t quite achieve the dream finish, being last man out, dismissed with two balls to spare while just four runs short of victory.
“With two balls to go, ‘Shuey’ had a big hit and got caught on the boundary line,” Keilor secretary Peter Delbridge said.
“It was one of those times you’ve got to have a dip with only two balls to go and four runs needed.
“When you come out batting No.10 and you put on 32 … that was a fantastic effort. He certainly stood up for us today and kept us in it to the last over.”
It was Schuppan and Dinesh Daminda who restricted Greenvale to 5-147 from its 40 overs. They had the Kangaroos in trouble at 2-9, but Anthony Barton (68) and Tallan Wright (44) posted a competitive total to rescue the Roos’ innings.
“Schuppan and Dinesh bowled really well early and certainly had Greenvale on the back foot,” Delbridge said.
“Greenvale recovered well from that to post a competitive score.”
It was a target Keilor was confident of catching, until it encountered early trouble to be 4-40.
Lachlan Sneddon (28) and import wicketkeeper Bill Anderson (36) led the Keilor fightback, but not until Schuppan’s late run spree did it challenge the home side’s total.
“Greenvale and Keilor games have been very close,” Delbridge said.
“There’s certainly a lot of feeling in those games, but the boys from both sides handle the pressure really well.
“Just like last time we played them in a one- dayer, we got done in the last over.
“The boys fought back really well. I don’t think we could’ve done much more after the start we had … when it gets down to the last over and you need seven.”
Keilor remains in the top four but will come under fire in the last match before the Christmas break with powerhouse ladder leader Yarraville Club paying a visit to Keilor Recreation Reserve for a two-day game starting Saturday.
“Our boys just love the challenge of coming up against good teams like Yarraville Club,” Delbridge said.
“They’ve been the benchmark in this competition for a long time.
“They play the game really hard, they’re very professional and are a really well-run outfit, so we’re looking forward to it.”
