Sunshine will look to reverse a first-innings loss against Endeavour Hills in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association’s east-west first XI on Saturday.
Like most teams who lost the toss around Melbourne at the weekend, Sunshine was put into bat on a bowler’s wicket and was dismissed for 73 in 33.4 overs.
Endeavour Hills passed the total eight wickets down for first-innings points.
Despite the result, Sunshine coach Mark Brown praised his side’s efforts.
“I was very happy,” he said. “The scoreline says 73, but the way we went about it was good. We played positive cricket, attacked the game and hit fours. If we’d played the way we did against Box Hill we would have been bowled out for a lot less.”
Nathan Armstrong (26) was the only batsman to reach double figures, but Brown said the wicket did much of the damage.
“I’d say five or six of our wickets were due to the pitch; top edges, balls off the gloves to close-in fielders.”
Sunshine bowled exceptionally well for much of Endeavour Hills innings and when their opponents were 8-48 the Crows were a good chance to defend their meek total.
But a 47-run stand between Richard Saniga (40 not out) and Matt Peake (8 not out) got Endeavour Hills over the line.
All-rounder Fayaz Ughradar was exceptional with the ball, at one stage having the remarkable figures of nine overs, nine maidens, 2-0. He finished with 2-8 from 15.
“There are 80 overs left, so depending on how we go early next week we’ll try to make it a one-day match,” Brown said.
