By Lance Jenkinson
Sunshine Heights is entering a crucial period in its Victorian Turf Cricket Association division 3 campaign.
Sitting mid-table with a 2-2 record, the Heights could take giant strides on the ladder – one way or another – with the completion of its two-day game against Seabrook followed by two one-day games.
Heights captain Luke Simpson is hoping the trajectory is north up the ladder.
“We said after today’s play that we’re almost at the stage where we can’t afford to lose this game,” he said after day one against Seabrook.
“If we want to play finals, these are the games we need to be winning.
“After this week, we’ve got two one-dayers, so it’s a really pivotal period in the season.”
Sunshine Heights went to stumps on Saturday evening confident that it has enough runs on the board to trouble Seabrook.
PHOTO GALLERY: Seabrook vs Sunshine Heights
The Heights posted 208 in tough conditions with Saman Gonawala leading the way with 73. “Getting sent in, we’re taking that score,” Simpson said.
“If we bowl to the standards that we want to bowl to, we’re pretty confident we can defend that.”
Gonawala was praised for his grittiness en route to a half century.
The Sunshine Heights go-to man rarely lets his team down.
“He’s just a class bat,” Simpson said.
“He’s had a fantastic start to the year.
“He batted a large chunk of the day and they weren’t ideal conditions, very overcast, the wicket wasn’t easy to bat on and Seabrook bowled really well all day.”
Simpson made 36, featuring in an important 105-run fourth wicket stand with Gonawala.
“That kind of steadied the ship a bit because we were 3-53 early on,” Simpson said. If there was a negative for Sunshine Heights, it was that a number of other batsmen got into the 20s and could not go on with it.
“We just lacked conversions,” Simpson said. “It’s something we can work on in the upcoming weeks.”
