Taylors Lakes is starting to gain momentum with three wins on the trot in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association east-west competition.
After a down period, the Lions won their last two games heading into the Christmas break.
They were able to continue that good form on Saturday against Endeavour Hills as they returned to the pitch after the break.
Lions coach Peter Brasher said he was pretty happy to come away with the points on the road.
“The two games before Christmas were massive for us,” he said.
“Yarraville at Yarraville anything can happen, while Altona were doing pretty well.
“They didn’t mean anything if we go to Endeavour Hills and not win.
“We went there to win and we did, which was a good thing.
“We’re just focused on winning to keep ourselves alive.”
The Lions were sent in and made 7-218 from their 45 overs.
Brasher said from where they were, it was a really good score.
“We were 4-66 with most of our main batters out,” Nilan [Fernando], who struggled before Christmas made 70 odd and the bottom order was good.
“Aidan [Braher] came out when they were on a hat-trick. A couple of other wickets and we were in trouble.”
Fernando finished with 77, while Luke Denny (33) and Jason Denny (28 not out) stepped up to push the score past 200.
Endeavour Hills got off to a decent start with the bat before the wickets started to fall.
The game looked headed towards a Lions win but there was another twist in the tail.
“We let their number 11 make 50 runs,” Brasher said.
“He was injured and had a runner and was whacking balls over the fence.
“They were nine wickets down still needing 100 and we switched off.
“It got to 40 off three overs and I thought this game was still alive.”
The Lions were able to get that final wicket and bowl Endeavour Hills out for 199 in the final over.
Liam Wolf took 5-35 for the Lions.
The performances of the two Dennys and Wolf has left the Lions with some selection dilemmas.
The trio hadn’t played much first XI cricket this season.
“Kavin Ravi went home for Christmas and wasn’t back, so that wasn’t part of the plan,” Brasher said.
“Arjun Upadhyay has been playing Dowling Shield and is one of the top run scorers and he had blisters and couldn’t play.
“We needed players to come in and play a role.
“The Denny boys are club stalwarts while Liam had only played one game and comes in and takes five wickets.
“It’s really positive and it points to a bit of depth and makes selection interesting this week.”
The Lions sit in 10th spot, just six points behind Hoppers Crossing in fourth spot.
Taylors Lakes this week faces Bayswater, which is three points ahead, in another one-dayer.
Brasher said they have to just keep on winning.
