Taylors Lakes’ dream start in sub district cricket continued on Saturday as it overpowered a previously unbeaten Werribee to move up to third on the east-west ladder.
The Lions played better the longer the 45-overs-a-side match progressed, weathering an early storm from the visiting bowlers to post 6-227 then comfortably defending it as it rolled the Tigers for 126.
Taylors Lakes coach Kris McMullen said it was their best win of the season.
“Coming up against a side that was undefeated, I guess a star-studded lineup, and to get a result like that was fantastic,” McMullen said.
“Winning by 100 runs is a good sign for the boys.”
Werribee won the toss and bowled on a greenish wicket, and while both Lions openers made starts the visiting bowlers made early inroads to have the hosts 3-46.
Shaun Guerra (30) steadied the innings approaching drinks, but at the halfway point things looked precarious for the home side at 6-114.
From there, however, the wheel started to turn in Lakes’ favour as Yoshan Kumara (74 not out) and Mark Koutroubas (52 not out) shared an unbroken 113-run stand.
It was a partnership built on smart cricket, with quick singles and punching balls through gaps rather than blasting boundaries.
McMullen said the two players simply summed up the conditions better than the rest of the batting order.
“The game could have gone either way when they came together,” he said.
“They timed their innings to perfection, lots of ones and twos, and we knew we would need a good score after seeing some of the totals Werribee have made already this season.
“For those two to bat through to 45 overs played a big part in the result. We thought 200 was par.”
When the Lions’ turn came with the ball, they were able to take wickets just as the Werribee batsmen were starting to look comfortable. Three of the Tigers’ top four made it past 20 but were dismissed soon after as the Lions tightened the screws.
Jarrod Wakeling celebrated his first game of the season with a wicket with his first ball and a match-turning 4-28. Meanwhile, the Werribee order crumbled from 3-90 to a final 126.
McMullen said to win three of the season’s first four games exceeded his expectations and it was now about consolidating that position as the competition moves to two-day mode.
“We were unsure of how we would go moving up to this standard of cricket, but so far we’ve acquitted ourselves really well,” he said.
“We’re over the moon at the moment, and it’s a great start to the season, but in saying that the test now is to adapt as we move into the two- dayers and compete well there as well.”
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