Harper Sercombe
Hoppers Crossing is hoping to bowl themselves back into its round two, two-day clash with Spotswood in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association.
The Cats won the toss last week and went out to bat in tricky conditions under some cloud cover at Hogans Road Reserve.
After losing a couple of wickets in a hurry, it seemed like tough going for the Cats at 2-8.
“We knew there was a little bit in the wicket early,” captain-coach Simon Lambert said speaking in between the two days play.
“We just thought we had to survive that first hour and after that it was going to be a lot easier.
“Unfortunately, we lost three or four wickets in that first hour and we knew it was going to be a bit of an uphill task from there.”
However, Lambert, opening the batting, was able to steady the ship for his team, alongside third drop batsman Sanka Ramesh Abeyruwan, making 42 and 93 respectively.
Unfortunately for Abeyruwan the tail wasn’t able to bat long enough for him to continue with the Cats losing their last three wickets for just 15 runs.
“No one in that lower order could really stick with him and help us get towards that 250 score, which was probably above par,” Lambert said.
“We ended up with a few less that we would’ve liked, that being said if we can bowl well, I don’t think the pitch is a road by any stretch, so I feel like if we can bowl to the best of our abilities, we should be getting very close to winning the game.”
After being dismissed for 193, the Cats had 11 overs to bowl at Spotswood, however they weren’t able to fully capitalise on the opportunity, only taking one wicket. Dismissing Jarrod Martignago for seven.
“To get one of the main batters out in those 10 overs was really pleasing,” Lambert said.
“We looked very threatening and we were probably unlucky not to get another one as well.
“So that gives us a lot of confidence heading into next week.
“Fingers crossed we can pick up early wickets next week, and if we can, hopefully that 200 will become pretty hard to get to.
“I think the two batters who are in [Taylor Tatterson and Jakson Knight] are the two they are going to rely on, so if we can get a couple of early wickets, I think it’s going to put a lot of pressure on their middle order.”
In the Cats’ first round clash they came close to knocking off one of the leagues’ best teams in Kew, but fell eight runs short in the run chase.
“We’ve got the art of playing tight games down to a tee,” Lambert said with a laugh.
“I thought Kew last week batted exceptionally, on a pitch that was very soft and not easy to bat on.
“It was the first game of the season so we take that with a pinch of salt.
“We’ve got a lot of new players, there’s still a lot to learn about the guys.”
