Keilor rocketed to the top of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association’s north division ladder with an outright smashing of Spotswood on Saturday.
After securing first innings points on day one, Keilor returned to Donald McLean Reserve looking to dish out more pain to the struggling Woodsmen.
With 22 wickets falling the previous weekend, the Blues took a 28-run lead into their second dig.
After struggling to build partnerships in their first innings, it looked as if the Woodsmen had fixed their problems, adding 26 for the first wicket to cut the deficit to two.
But the loss of one wicket was enough to give Keilor a sniff and the Blues set about matching their heroics of the first day.
With Spotswood eventually bowled out for 148, Keilor had no trouble tracking down the target of 121, the win coming in the 27th over for the loss of just four wickets.
Keilor vice-president Michael Sneddon was happy with his team’s performance.
“We bowled really well in both innings,” he said.
“We got off to a pretty shaky start in our first innings but our second was really solid and it was pretty convincing in the end.
“We really rate Spotswood. We think we have the best bowling attack, but they would certainly be second to us.”
Only Spotswood captain Andrew Dickinson provided resistance, making 46 after
coming in at number six in his side’s second innings.
Keilor was led by Sri Lankan recruit Upal Bandara.
Playing just his third match for the Blues, Bandara took 10 wickets and made a vital 60 not out in the first innings.
“We wanted to bat the 80 overs in the first innings but to have 22 wickets falling on the first day, that in itself is unusual,” Sneddon said.
“Upal was outstanding with both bat and ball. His 60 in the first innings is probably what got us over the line.
“He’s fitted into the club really well and he’s a real competitor.”
Keilor has now won its last two matches outright.
The Blues will take on sixth-placed Essendon Doutta Stars this week.
“We’ll go in there and try to put our best
foot forward and see what happens,” Sneddon said.
“In the second innings of the Spotswood game we started to see some stability with our batting.
“That’s probably something we have to work on.”
Liam Twomey
