Taylors Lakes bounced back from its worst performance of the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association south-west competition, to be a solid spot against Hoppers Crossing after day one.
The Lions, who started the season well, have dropped their last three matches to fall back in the pack, making the match with the Cats an important one.
Coach Peter Brasher said they were happy with that performance.
“The Werribee performance was the one that we had to have,” he said. “We had still been playing good cricket in the two games before that, which we lost.
“It was our worst day of cricket for a long time. It was one of those performances you need to bounce back from.
“We were happy to bounce back like that, it was really pleasing”
The Lions won the toss and were going to bat in warm conditions on Saturday, but decided at the last minute to send the Cats in.
It turned out well for the Lions as they bowled the Cats out for 172 in the 64th over.
“We bowled pretty well and keeping them to 172 we would have taken that,” he said. “Charlie [Chalitha Chamoda] was the standout with four wickets and Larry [Dhanushka Lahiru Kumara] took two wickets. It was the Charlie and Larry show.”
The one downside for the Lions was opening one of their opening bats splitting the webbing on his hand late in the innings. He didn’t come out to bat for the Lions innings on Saturday.
It meant Brasher had to step in as 12th man and field.
“I was only out there for five overs,” he said. “I did tell them before the game that in the last 10 years, I never felt like playing more than I have now. They reminded me about that after the game.
“I was relieved when we got the wickets quickly so we could get off.”
It wasn’t the start the Lions were after with the bat, as they faced 10 overs.
They will resume at 2-4.
Brasher said facing 10 overs at the end of the day is always a tricky amount of overs, which can go either way.
“We lost two wickets so far, but hopefully they are two wickets that don’t have much of an impact,” Brasher said.
“We have to make 170 with eight wickets in hand. If we turn up and commit and concrete and get these runs, we’ll keep the dream alive.
‘It will be a psychological challenge.”
The Lions currently sit in eighth spot, three points outside the top six.
Brasher said with matches against some of the lower ranked sides in the run home, this match was important to put them in a good spot.
