Bundoora had a less than ideal start to the Diamond Valley Cricket Association’s Barclay Shield competition.
After a strong pre-season, the Bulls were hoping their hard work would show through on the field against Epping on Saturday on day one of their two-day match.
Instead, the Bulls find themselves behind the eight ball.
Bulls coach Jason Kaminski was disappointed.
“We would have been good to get around the 160 mark,” he said.
“We started all right before it fell away in the middle order. Everyone was ready to go and had confidence in the batting, but it didn’t show.”
After an opening partnership of 16, the Bulls lost 6-20 to be in trouble at 6-36.
Kaminski and an unusual suspect in Adam Sing then set about rescuing the innings. They put on 48 for the seventh wicket partnership.
Once Kaminski was out for 23 it was left to tail to push the score up.
In the end the Bulls were all out for 105.
Sing top scored with 30.
Kaminski said it was pleasing to see Sing stick around and bat some time.
Billy McKeown was the pick of the Epping bowlers.
Epping started well in its chase and will resume at 2-40.
Kaminski knows the the Bulls have a challenge ahead on them on day two.
“We were hoping to have them three or four wickets down, but we leaked some runs,” he said.
“We’ll come back confident we can get the wickets. A lot of games between the sides have been close. Last year they beat us nine wickets down and same the year before.”
The first-year coach said the focus season this season was to get a winning culture back at the club.
The Bulls finished last season eighth with three wins.
“We’re trying to develop blokes and get back a winning culture,” he said.
“If we can get back to winning, hopefully it’ll bring a few players back to the club.”
Kaminski said his new role had been challenging at times, but having former Premier Cricket coach Brendan Joyce helping out had made things easier.
In other games, Old Paradians need 198 for victory against Lower Eltham.
In the Money Shield, Bundoora United is in a good position against Banyule on the back of centuries from Corey Cogan and Conlan Gunn.
United was 2-9 before the pair put on a partnership of 282. United finished their overs at 3-307.
Gunn finished unbeaten on 163, while Cogan made 120. Mernda is 2-53 in reply to Lalor Stars’ 134.
Mill Park made 9-216 against Heidelberg.
