Werribee Centrals enjoyed a strong weekend in Victorian Turf Cricket Association North West A1, controlling their day-one clash against Westmeadows before grabbing some much needed points on Sunday.
The Sunday game was a reschedule of the washed-out round one fixture against St Andrews, and the weather was again unkind, with the clash ending in a draw just as Centrals were set to take their first win of the year.
After making 175, thanks largely to a stylish 52 from opener Daniel Williams, Centrals put themselves in the box seat for a win, reducing the home side to 4-40 … before the rain set in and washed away any chance of a result.
In their Saturday two-day fixture against Westmeadows, Werribee Centrals elected to bowl on an overcast afternoon, and was soon rewarded.
Rahmatullah Khwaja was on song with the new ball, but after the visitors’ opening batsmen put on 26, they soon fell in a hole, losing 5-22.
Khwaja was the chief destroyer, picking up 4-33 off 24 overs, with all his victims in the Westmeadows’ top six.
If not for a fighting 52 from Sathpath Kamburugamuwa the scoreline would have looked far worse, as most of the Westmeadows’ order failed to make it to double figures.
Blake Taylor (2-24) and Jacob Russell (2-21) were good in the latter overs, as Centrals dismissed the visitors for 134. Centrals had a tricky 10-over spell to negotiate late in the day, and they progressed to 1-19 at stumps.
In North West B1 games, Wyndham Vale had an up-and-down weekend, falling apart with the bat on Saturday before grabbing one of the few wins on Sunday.
With most Sunday games washed out as rain swept through mid afternoon, Wyndham Vale was the beneficiary, dismissing St Andrews Pascoe Vale in just 21 overs to give themselves plenty of time to chase down the target of 91.
Aaron Graham (3-18) and Ryan Radford (3-20) were the best with the ball.
Wyndham Vale chased quickly to make it to 5-94 before the rain came.
On Saturday it was a different story, as Wyndham Vale slumped to 114 all out against Royal Park/Brunswick. Liam McLaughlin (38) and Radford (45 not out) were the only players to reach double figures.
With 33 overs to bowl, Wyndham Vale struggled to take early wickets, as the hosts moved to 2-83 by stumps.
Radford continued his strong day with 1-13, but something special is needed early Saturday to avoid conceding first innings points.
