By Lance Jenkinson
Taylors Lakes has a blueprint to follow after observing how Yarraville’s batsmen constructed their innings in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association east-west group at Lionheart Reserve on Saturday.
The Lions have been set a gettable 162 for victory when play resumes on a crucial second day this Saturday that could see them get back into the top six mix with a win or just about kiss goodbye their finals hopes with a loss.
Lions captain Jarrod Wakeling said his side must bat with a plan to successfully chase down the target.
“We’ve got to prepare for the same conditions in that the pitch will do a little bit,” he said.
“We’re well aware of what they did well.
“They were very patient and the guys that made runs for them played very straight and just kind of sweated on the bad balls.
“If we adopt what their run scorers did, 160 on our ground is certainly achievable.”
Taylors Lakes took the honours on day one thanks to their stellar bowling.
PHOTO GALLERY: Taylors Lakes vs Yarraville
Conceding a mere 2.26 runs per over after losing the toss and having to bowl was undoubtedly a win for the Lions.
Wakeling joked that he had only won “probably two tosses in two years and funnily enough lost it again”, but this was not a bad coin toss to lose.
“It was one of those tosses that you don’t mind losing,” he said.
“The pitch was a tiny bit green and we didn’t really know what to expect from it.
“At the start of the day, if you had’ve told me they would make around 160 all out, I would’ve taken it.
“We’re relatively happy with the way that the game is positioned at the moment.”
It could have even been better for Taylors Lakes.
The Lions had Yarraville on the ropes at 7-105, but could not land a significant blow that might have crippled the batting line-up. “
We dropped a catch, which was disappointing and they got a bit of a partnership on and scraped through to 160 odd,” Wakeling said.
Wakeling was the pick of the Taylors Lakes bowlers.
The spinner weaved his magic en route to 4-52 off 24 overs.
It was a fair bit of heavy lifting for Wakeling, who was nursing a slight calf strain, but he wanted no sympathy.
“Bowling off six or seven steps is not that strenuous,” he said with a laugh. “I’m always tired and had enough by the end of it, but it’s certainly not as strenuous as the boys that run in off 20-odd steps and hit the crease pretty hard.”
This was a genuine team effort from Taylors Lakes bowlers.
Pacemen Jason Denny (2-8), Aidan Brasher (1-17) and Rachid O’Neale (1-28) and spinner Aamir Raza (1-24) got in on the act for the Lions.
Wakeling was again impressed with teenager Brasher.
“You know he’s got potential, but he’s been a bit of a surprise packet how he’s walked into this competition, gone about his business and delivered what has been asked of him,” Wakeling said.
Sitting six points outside the top six, Taylors Lakes, beginning at 0-6, can make significant inroads if they can pick off the 156 runs required for victory
