Taylors Lakes struggled to contain a rampant Caulfield batting line-up on Saturday, as the Lions fell to their fourth straight loss to start the sub district cricket season.
While the hosts got an early wicket, four consecutive half-centuries from Caulfield’s much vaunted batting line-up turned the game in its favour as it posted a huge 284 from 45 overs.
It was a chase far too great for a young and developing Lions batting order, and despite a fighting and fluent 93 from Nipun Sumanasinghe they fell well short, ending the game on 7-202.
Taylors Lakes captain Jarrod Wakeling said the class of Caulfield was on display.
“They’re a first-rate side, and in terms of the quality they’ve got, they’re second to none and would rival anyone in sub district,” Wakeling said.
“Our bowling wasn’t up to scratch and their class shone through and as a result we were chasing a monstrous total.
“We probably didn’t adapt as well as we would have liked, but our bowling line-up is very young and they’re learning the hard way how to play this level. But they are learning.”
Photo Gallery: Taylors Lakes vs Caulfield
After Caulfield won the toss and took first use of a good batting deck, Sumanasinghe got his day off to a strong start as he hit the pegs to dismiss John Aikins, who had hit four boundaries in his 16.
Former first class batsman Graeme Rummans showed his class in partnership with his captain Jacob Thorne, and together the pair raced to a 93-run partnership at close to a run a ball.
Dilshan Kanchana bowled Rummans for a 48-ball 56, but with Thorne (50), Sam Anthony (64 off 56 balls) and Peter Cross (71 off 51 balls) all in good touch the Lions ran out of answers.
The hosts were able to run through the lower order as they looked to pile on more runs late in the innings, eventually dismissing Caulfield on the final ball of the innings.
Wakeling was the beneficiary of the late order slogging, with the spinner collecting 5-44 off eight overs.
In reply, the chase got off to a horror start when Michael Brne was run out for just 3, but Chris Marr and Sumanasinghe steadied the ship with a 94-run stand.
Rummans grabbed a rare wicket when he bowled Marr for 35, and from there the innings fell away.
Lachlan Marr (12), Kanchana (14) and Marcus Just (12) all made starts before being dismissed, but none could stay with Sumanasinghe long enough to give the innings momentum.
Wakeling said his young side had taken a lot out of a tough start to the season.
“I think our young guys are learning a lot of lessons that are going to make them better players in the short and long term,” he said. “We have about three players around that 19, 20, 21 age mark, and at the moment our immaturity playing against guys with 10-15 years’ sub district experience is seeing us get found out.
“But it’s a learning curve and we’ve been competitive in most of our games so I don’t think we’re far off.”
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