Tara Murray
The momentum is starting to grow for Taylors Lakes in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association east-west.
After just one win before the Christmas break, the Lions started the second half of the season with back-to-back wins.
The Lions beat Endeavour Hills in a one-dayer, before a one-run win against Altona in the T20 competition on Tuesday night.
Lions coach Alex Deuchar said the side had been better the last four rounds, as additions to the line up had paid off.
“Ben [Coddington] joined us before Christmas,” he said.
“Austin Young was opening the batting in the third XI. He has moved through the second XI and now moved into the first XI.
“They’re getting big partnerships at the top of the order. Samuel Clark, is another pick up who we got before Christmas.
“He took the first five wickets on Saturday.”
Deuchar said the improvement in the batting had been a key for the side as it looked to close the gap between its best and its worst.
Coddington, an Englishman, scored a century in his first game, while he also has a 98 to his name, in a short period of time.
Deuchar said Coddington adds a bit more experience to the side.
“We weren’t having the scores on the board and sides were chasing down low scores,” he said.
“We wanted to add a bit more experience, and get some more runs at the top of the order. We have a young team and not a lot of experience from a runs point of view,
“Luke Denny is the next highest and he’s only 20-year-old. Since Ben has arrived we have improved.”
The pick up of Clark has also been important for the Lions. Deuchar said Clark had been their best bowler since coming in and one of the best seamers in the competition.
“He is a Taylors Lakes junior and played first XI cricket at the club,” he said, “He wanted to try his hand at premier cricket.
“He’s looking to enjoy his cricket a bit more with less commitment and has come back and has been our best bowler.”
The arrival of Clark has allowed Deuchar to take a step back from playing and focusing on coaching.
He said one of his main focuses has been bridging the gap between the club’s top two sides.
The Lions were set to play in a two-dayer on Saturday against Noble Park after deadline. It’s the first two-day match since before COVID-19.
The Lions were bowled out for 161, with Noble Park 3-30 in reply.
Speaking before the match, Deuchar said they were keen to continue building on the work they had been doing in recent rounds.
“Not much changes except the mindset and preparing to play cricket for longer,” he said.
“The focus is to keep doing what we’ve been doing the last four games and getting scores on the board.
“We haven’t been getting bowled out, which has been a large focus. It’s small steps and batting out the overs and staying positive and pushing the scoreboard up to give our bowlers something to defend.
“It’s a learning curve.”
