Harper Sercombe
Hoppers Crossing is in a strong position in its Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association north-west clash against Taylors Lakes claiming first innings points on Saturday.
After electing to bat the Lions were on the back foot early, losing three wickets within the first five overs. With the Cats’ opening bowler Brett Smith having an immediate impact dismissing the Lions’ captain Aamir Raza in the first over.
Following the Cats’ opening bowlers successful spell, the competition’s premier spinner Fawad Ahmed continued to do what he has done all season and run through the middle and lower order.
Ahmed finished with 6-29, taking his season tally to 47 wickets at an average of 8.46. Cats’ skipper Simon Lambert said he has been delighted with Ahmed’s first season back at the club.
“He has played international cricket and some of the guys he has bowled to are a long way from that level, so he’s capable of making them look fairly silly at times,” he said.
“He cleaned up again yesterday again with the lower order and got us into a good position.”
Smith then returned to finish the Lions’ innings at 73 from just 37 overs. Batting at four, Nilan Fernando top scored for his side with 32.
With the ball, the Lions were also able to strike early, having the Cats on the back foot at 2-18. The Lions opening bowlers were able to have the most success with Arafat Bhuiyan leading the way with 5-40.
Apart from Lambert making 68, opening the batting, the two sides batting innings were very similar, as the Cats were knocked over for 152 in the 41st over.
Lambert has been in strong form this season, with the skipper having 648 runs to his name at an average of 46.3.
“Hopefully I can continue that and hopefully we can make finals and we can pile on a few more runs,” he said.
“It’s pretty fun when it’s going well so hopefully it can continue.”
With the Cats 79 runs up and an outright win all but guaranteeing them a spot in the finals, Lambert said he couldn’t be happier with the performance.
“Things couldn’t have gone much better, bowling them out pretty cheaply and then getting the runs required and kicking on to get a bit of a lead,” he said.
“We probably would’ve liked another 20 or so runs but we’ve got a lead so that’s something to work with.
“Hopefully we can put the pedal down next week for something similar and knock off any runs we need to get and get an outright win that would obviously put us in a good position going into the final round.
“If a couple of results go our way next week it would make our life a lot easier going into the final round but it’s in our hands. If we can win that final round game against Werribee then we should be taking a spot in the finals.”
