By Lance Jenkinson
Taylors Lakes has broken through for its first win of the summer in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association.
It was a gutsy Lions’ outfit that overcame Elsternwick by six runs in a thrilling one-day game at Elsternwick Park on Saturday.
After getting bowled out for just 153 in 42.4 overs, Taylors Lakes had to fight tooth and nail to ensure a successful defence of a small total.
The Lions restricted the Wicks to 9-147 off their maximum 45 overs to secure victory.
Taylors Lakes made a positive start with the match with the bat, surpassing 50 with the loss of one wicket. However, a steady stream of wickets thereafter made for a stop-start innings.
Openers Chris Marr (29) and Michael Brne (20) and No. 5 Dilshan Kanchana (19) were the top run scorers for Taylors Lakes.
The main generation of runs in the innings though were extras gifted by the Wicks bowlers – 32 in all – which included 23 runs from wides.
It took a team effort from Taylors Lakes to defend a small total in 30-degree heat.
Skipper Jarrod Wakeling led the way for the Lions with an economical and damaging 3-22 off nine overs.
Three Lions – Samual Clark (2-19 off 7), Nipun Sumanasinghe (2-27 off 9) and Liam Wolf (2-40 off 8) – snared two important wickets apiece.
Lachlan Marr’s wicketkeeping was crucial for the Lions. Marr produced three stumpings off three different bowlers.
The monkey is off the back for Taylors Lakes, which was the last remaining team to register a win in the south-west group. The Lions will be hoping to keep on their winning ways when they host Ormond in a two-day game next.
Meanwhile, the VSDCA will take on the Victorian Country Cricket League in its annual representative game this Sunday in Geelong.
The VSDCA team is: James Wild (Ormond), Brendan McGuinnes (Oakleigh), Ryan Pearson (Plenty Valley), Chris Weeks (Kew), Ric Damiano (Brighton), Patrick O’Malley (Williamstown), Arosh Janoda (St Bernard’s), James Pearson (Brunswick), Raza Rizwan (Ivanhoe), Adam Yates (Altona), Brad Jones (Melton) and Issy Perera (Noble Park).
MORE VSDCA NEWS
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/melton-keeps-the-faith/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/century-sets-up-victory-for-plenty-valley/
