Tara Murray
Werribee Centrals are hoping a good batting performance this weekend can set up its Victorian Turf Cricket Association Roy Picone Shield season.
The Centurions are without a win after the first three rounds, but find themselves in a solid position after day one of their match with Glenroy.
Centurions president and player Luke Allister said it hadn’t been the start to the season they were after.
“It has been a little bit of a rough start to the year,” he said. “It’s been interrupted with weather and that stuff.
“I feel like we are starting to get a few players coming back, as we’ve had a few players out unfortunately.
“One of our players had a bit of an accident in the offseason overseas and will hopefully be back soon.
“In our last game opening bowler Jayden [Golowka]… did his ACL running into bowl which was tough.”
On Saturday, the Centurions were in action on day one of their clash with Glenroy.
Glenroy was bowled out for 223 in the 68th over.
Allister said it was a tough slog in the field.
“We have played them a lot over the years and they have a pretty talented side,” he said.
“There wasn’t much in the wicket for the bowlers. Our captain Usman Ashraf bowled 30 overs, pretty much straight, which was a massive effort.
“We’re a little short on bowlers at the moment.”
Waqar Shah was the pick of the bowlers with 5-69.
The Centurions will resume at 1-39 having faced nine overs at the end of day one.
Allister said they were confident they could get the runs this Saturday.
“We have a strong batting line up, that is our strength,” he said.
“Hopefully we can hit the score with our batting power.”
Allister said they were hoping a win would kick start their season. He said they believed that they were on the right track for not only this season, but the future.
“We have a lot of young guys coming through the twos,” he said. “Hopefully it will hold us in good stead.
“We went through last season and we got blown out in just one game. We were a new team learning to play together, some teams have been together for five or six years.
“Hopefully it’ll hold us in good stead this year and in the future. We have a good bunch of young kids, who will hopefully come up and take our spots.”
Meanwhile, Point Cook is in trouble in its match with Maribyrnong Park St Marys.
The Lions were bowled out for 187, with Vishay Ramchander the pick of the bowlers for Point Cook with four wickets.
It was a disaster for Point Cook late on day one, as they crumbled to 6-45.
In the Evans-Clark Shield, Point Cook Centrals are 1-33 in reply to Gellibrand’s 207, while Bellbridge is 5-37 in reply to Melton South Royals’ 169.
In the Russell Pollock Shield, Wyndhamvale has already conceded first innings points to Seabrook.
