By Ewen McRae
A century opening stand has guided St Albans to a huge win in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division opener, knocking off reigning premier Yarraville Club on Saturday.
Chasing down the Clubbers 7-223 from last week, St Albans could not have asked for a better start as openers Brenton Cook and Simon Lambert laid the perfect platform with a 123-run partnership, allowing the middle order the freedom to chase down the target with plenty of time to spare, though not without some nervous moments.
The Saints eventually reached the target in the 72nd over, finishing on 8-223.
St Albans’ coach Rob Nikolic said all credit had to go to his openers, who produced the match-winning stand.
“That’s probably one of the best opening partnerships I’ve seen at the club,” he said.
“To come out and do that in our first game in the top division, against probably the best team in Victoria outside of Premier Cricket, was just outstanding.
“Cook played a couple of games for us last year, but that knock from him was outstanding, and it was probably a different innings from Lambert, who’s a very good player, but he just anchored the whole innings which was crucial in the end.”
Cook and Lambert took up the challenge against the reigning champs with aplomb, with Cook playing the role of aggressor while Lambert was more patient but equally impressive.
Will Sheridan was his usual tidy self with the new ball for the visitors, however Joseph Blake took some early punishment at the other end, with his four overs costing 26-runs and getting St Albans off to a good start.
Cook hit eight boundaries and two big sixes in his knock of 71 off just 104 balls, but when he was trapped in front by Adam Contessa (1-22) the visitors started to get back into the contest.
From 0-123, St Albans slipped to 5-161, with Chathura Darshana (4-85 off 26 overs) doing some damage.
Lambert was the third man out for a vital 60.
While the Clubbers had a sniff of a comeback win, a pair of 20s from Pawandeep Singh and captain Tom Langley-Dunn were enough to guide the Saints home.
Nikolic said he hoped this was the start of a strong season at the highest level of VTCA.
“The expectation from us first of all was to survive and avoid relegation, so this is a good start towards that,” he said.
“Hopefully we can build on this and …establishing ourselves as a permanent fixture at this level.”
MORE VTCA NEWS
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/bellbridge-squares-ledger/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/openers-lead-the-way/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/craigieburns-ideal-start/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/extra-pain-for-melton-south-royals/
