By Lance Jenkinson
Everything Sunshine touched turned to gold on the opening day of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association division 2 season.
The Crows executed all facets of the game en route to a commanding 97-run win over Werribee Centrals in a one-day game at Dempster Park on Saturday.
Crows captain-coach Troy Stone was full of praise for his team.
“I’m pretty excited with our start,” he said.
“I couldn’t have asked for any more.”
Sunshine got sent in to bat on a green top but never appeared uncomfortable.
The Crows posted a competitive 4-203 off their 40 overs to be in the box seat at the halfway mark.
Stone top-scored for Sunshine with 53 off just 37 balls.
The skipper was the aggressor of the Crows opening partnership with Sam Magnano, who added a solid 25 off 37.
“The pitch looked green, but it played pretty well,” Stone said. “We set the tone early and got off to a quick start.
“I tried attacking their bowlers and put them off their game and it succeeded.
“Sammy played the anchor role like he normally does.”
Contributions in the middle order from Asela Aluthge (26), Prasanna Ketheenshwaran (29) and Charith Fernando (41 not out) ensured Sunshine posted a score their bowlers could defend.
Once Fernando wreaked havoc with the bat, he turned his attention to the ball.
Fernando snared the first two Werribee Centrals wickets to set Sunshine on its way to a successful defence.
“We got two wickets in the first over through Fernando,” Stone said. “He was on a hat trick.
“He was pretty damn close to it, but it was just sliding down leg.
“He gets us off to a great start most weeks.”
Six of Sunshine’s bowlers were used for five or more overs.
PHOTO GALLERY: Sunshine vs Werribee Centrals
With a healthy score on the board, Stone wanted to share the ball around and get some overs into the arms of his bowlers.
Centrals were bowled out for 106.
“No one bowled more than six overs, so it was a good team effort with the ball.”
Sunshine will hit the road to face Williamstown CYMS in a one-day game on Saturday.
In senior division, St Albans made a confident start to the season, beating Sunshine United by seven wickets.
Chasing 209 for victory, the Saints passed the target in the 47th over.
It was the perfect start to the season for St Albans, who just missed out on the finals last season.
Keilor had a nightmare start to the season, losing to Doutta Stars by 145 runs.
The Blues declared on 8-197, but they had nowhere near enough runs in the bank.
The Stars marched to 9-342 with Hamish Moore leading the way with 194 off just 200 balls, including 28 fours and three sixes.
Kaushal Lokuarachchi was the standout Keilor bowler with 5-50.
In division 1 west, Deer Park had a hard-fought 55-run victory over Altona Roosters.
Alfar Mohammed made a flying start to the season for the Parkers with 70 off 66.
In the north section, PEGS suffered a two-wicket loss to St Francis de Sales, despite 51 not out from Shakeem Clarke.
In division 3, Saman Gonawala scored 68 in Sunshine Heights’ 107-run win over East Keilor.
