Keilor coach Mick Andreadis has played down the significance of his side’s one-day win over local rivals Keilor Park in the first Turf Cricket north division game of the new year.
In one of the most anticipated derbies between the clubs for years, the first and second sides on the ladder battled it out at Keilor Recreation Reserve on Saturday knowing the winner would take both top spot and bragging rights.
The Blues inflicted the Devils’ first loss of the summer to jump to the top of the ladder, but it offered little comfort or satisfaction to Andreadis, who knows his side will now have a target on its back.
“I like to be the team chasing rather than the one everyone’s looking to knock off,” he told Star Weekly.
How about beating your nearest rival? Surely that must hold extra significance?
“They’re just another side really,” Andreadis said. “They’re just up the road, but we’re not worried about them and they’re not about us.”
Keilor was staring down the barrel when the Devils advanced to 1-120 on the back of a stellar performance from captain Robert Jones (72).
But the Blues bowlers stuck to their task and when the breakthrough came it sparked an avalanche of wickets, the Devils losing nine scalps for just 46 to be all out for 166.
Young spinner Jarryd Clements rode his luck but finished with a haul of 5-26, one of his wickets courtesy of a spectacular catch on the boundary by Daniel Venables.
“The ball was going for six but Dan took a one-hander,” Andreadis said.
Dan Schuppan returned for a second spell to add to the Devils’ misery with four wickets.
Shaun Guerra was the key to a successful run chase for Keilor. The skipper made 73 in a total of 6-193 and impressed the larger-than-usual crowd at the Blues’ past players day.
“We had a few supporters here today and they said it was the best knock they’d seen him play,” Andreadis said.
Former Sri Lankan Test player Kaushal Lokuarachchi (33) and Venables (30) made important contributions.
The Blues will begin to defend their top- dog status away at Altona North starting on Saturday, while Keilor Park will host West Coburg in a top-four blockbuster.
Lance Jenkinson
