Tara Murray
St Albans opened its Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division season account on Saturday, with a strong all-round performance against Sunshine United.
With a new line up this season and a new coach, the Saints entered the season keen to be among the mix come finals.
On Saturday, the bowlers backed up what the batters did on day one of the match against the Tigers.
Saints captain-coach Michael Else said they were pretty happy with the result. Else has stepped into the coaching role again this season, having coached them in the 2022-23 season.
The Saints made 260 on day one of the match.
Else said anything above 260 was a good score on their ground and they were confident that they could restrict the Tigers.
The Tigers’ hopes on Saturday weren’t helped as they were two batters short.
St Albans capitalised and restricted the Tigers to 8-86. Leigh Sheridan top scored with 46.
Lihan Dulshan took 4-7 off 8.5 overs for the Saints.
“It was good for us,” Else said. “We didn’t quite get the outright but it was still good for us to get the win.
“We were really happy with that.The opening bowlers took three early wickets and then the spinners come on after that.”
The Saints sent the Tigers back in as they went searching for an outright win.
The Tigers finished 5-96 to hold off the Saints.
Dulshan took another three wickets for the Saints to finish with seven for the day.
Else said there were three really good teams in the competition this season and they were hoping that they would also be in the mix for finals.
He said they were happy with the squad they had put together.
“We picked up three English guys and we’ve got our Sri Lankan guys and picked up a couple of players from other clubs,” Else said.
“I think we have a relatively set team due to player points. We have only 20 points and we’re playing on 20 points.
“We need to have two zero pointers and I’m one of them.”
The Saints next match is a two-dayer starting Saturday against Sydenham-Hillside.
Else said the Storm is one of those sides that is leading the way.
“They’ve picked up three really good players from Abers,” he said. “They’ve made two really good scores already.
“It will give us a good guide where we are at.”
The Storm come into the match on the back of a win against Keilor.
After making 385 on day one, the Storm bowled Keilor out for 172.
Chetan Arjun top scored with 43 for the Blues on Saturday. Timothy Grech took three wickets for the Storm.
In other results, Deer Park beat Aberfeldie.
Needing 123, the Lions finished 5-254 with Aaron Ayre making his first 100 for the club, finishing 104 not out.
Aberfeldie finished 5-124 in its second innings.
Lachlan Fitzgerald and Ayre took two wickets each.
