As well as working out the strengths and weaknesses of new opponents, and discovering how to play conditions at unfamiliar venues, Sunshine is still coming to terms with a different points system since crossing from sub-district cricket to the VTCA.
In the subbies, once a side reaches a target, it’s game over – but that’s not the case in the VTCA, which has a points system that rewards every run made and wicket taken, so there is no chance of a side taking its foot off the pedal.
The Crows seem to be fast learners, not only reaching the victory target of 122 set by Jacana on Saturday, but powering past it to make 8-203, picking up some valuable bonus points.
“I’m still getting my head around the points system,” Crows’ skipper Troy Stone said. You have to play out all the overs for points and that’s why we batted out the full overs.
“I have to push that into my players this season … you’re getting something out of every ball you play.”
While Sunshine comfortably accounted for Jacana by 82 runs to notch its second win of the season. It remains undefeated in the VTCA north A1, but chasing down the home side’s 121 was not a walk in the park.
Crows’ bowlers had shown earlier in the day the advantageous pitch conditions for the spinners late in the innings, which saw Stone (3-54) and Dhanushka Udawela (3-14) create headaches for the Jacana batsmen.
But Sunshine avoided any late hiccups in their innings, building from rock solid foundations made by openers Sam Magnano (20) and Aiden Elkington (46), who combined for 69 for the first wicket – the Crows never looked back from this point on.
It will be remembered as a break-out game for Tyler Rainbow, who reached his first half century as a first XI player en route to 51.
Crows’ supporters were pleased to see a homegrown talent thriving in the ones.
“He’s a club junior, who has come through the system and is reaping the rewards at the moment,” Stone said. “We’ve got a couple of kids back to the club this year, and things are looking up.
“We’ve got a really good young side,” he said.
“We’re building for this year and the future.”
Keilor had a 130-run win over Strathmore in the senior division. Fifth batsman Upal Bandara made 110 not out, Dan Schuppan took six wickets.
Sunshine United sits pretty in second place in north-west division after beating Altona North by 42 runs on the back of three wickets each to Michael Glowacki and Nicholas Millar.
St Albans, led by 91 from Simon Lambert, is knocking at the door of the top four after first innings win over Footscray United.
