By Tara Murray
It was tricky conditions that suited the bowlers as St Albans got on top against Craigieburn in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division on Saturday.
Wet weather caused havoc on the first day of the second last match of the season with not many sides completing a full day of overs.
The Saints match with Craigieburn was just one of two in the senior division to have completed more than 50 overs.
Saints coach Michael Else said they were happy after day one.
“The pitch was a bit damp because of the rain,” he said. “We were on and off two or three times and the pitch was playing up a fair bit.
“They called stumps after we got in 10 overs [them batting] and we were in a good position.”
The Eagles won the toss and sent the Saints in on the damp wicket.
The Saints managed to make 147 before being bowled out in the 55th over.
Arosh Janoda made 58 and Charith Mendis made 35 in the middle order.
While the total is lower than they would have liked, Else said with the conditions it was a really good score.
“We had a couple of guys bat really well,” he said. “We were happy to get that score.
“We did a good enough job to get those runs and put a score on the board.”
Else said the message to the bowlers in the innings break was to attack the stumps and put the pressure back on the Eagles.
They managed to have the Eagles in trouble at 4-10 at stumps to be on top.
Janoda had two of the wickets.
With the weather looking a bit better for day two, the Saints will be looking for early wickets.
Both sides sit a game outside the top four and keen on making a move into finals position.
“We definitely have to play well and hope other results go our way and it’ll go down to the final round of the season,” Else said.
“That is what we are hoping for. We had a bit of bad luck against Yarraville Club, when we lost on the second last ball, but other than that we’ve been really good.
“We’ve been happy with how we’ve been going.”
Airport West St Christophers is the team that is currently in fourth. In its match with Yarraville Club, it is 5-125.
In other matches. Keilor made 6-159 from 67.2 overs against Deer Park.
Robert Clements top scored with 43. Fawad Ahmed has three of the wickets for the Lions.
Elsewhere, Sunshine United was 2-7 against Aberfeldie before play was called off, while Sydenham-Hillside and Westmeadows didn’t get on.
