By Lance Jenkinson
Sunshine has an embarrassment of riches in its bowling department this season.
The whole Crows bowling attack was showcased against Sunshine Heights in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association division 3 on Saturday with outstanding results.
Crows captain Troy Stone believes his side is in the box seat after day one, thanks to the depth in his bowling unit that restricted Sunshine Heights to 9-192 off 75 overs before the declaration.
“Sometimes I’ve got too many bowlers, but I’d rather have them than not,” he said.
“No one bowled more than 12 overs today, so you really need to take your chance with the ball, otherwise you’re off. It keeps the bowlers on their toes and they understand that.”
Photo Gallery: Sunshine vs Sunshine Heights
To restrict Sunshine Heights to 2.56 runs per over on a warm day was a good result.
Rarely have the Crows had to stay in the field for so long this season, but given the need to, Stone was eager to see how they would respond and they did him proud.
It could have been a perfect day for Sunshine had it not been for Sunshine Heights’ star batsman Saman Gonawala.
Gonawala frustrated the life out of the Crows with 87. He is averaging more than 50 for the season and is arguably the best batsman in the competition.
“He batted pretty smart,” Stone said. “There was a short boundary to one side and he targeted that well and then he picked off singles.
“He batted really well, got dropped once, but other than that, he was really good.”
Gonawala’s scalp was taken by Sunshine rookie Riley Tribe. Tribe, a teenager in his second first XI game, took the massive scalps of Gonawala and Mohsin Abbas – both top 10 batsmen in the competition.
“He just charges in, has a crack and hits good areas,” Stone said. “He got two of their better bats.”
Tribe is one of a number of youngsters who have infiltrated the top two sides at Sunshine.
Stone is pleased with the balance of young and old in the first team.
Others to impress with the ball for Sunshine were paceman Altamash Zaheer with 2-24 and leg spinner Arsalan Amin 2-22.
Stone is sensing a growing rivalry between Sunshine and Sunshine Heights.
It is all square so far this season, so day two will act as a decider for bragging rights over the winter should the sides not meet in the finals.
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