Wyndhamvale’s early season struggles with the bat continued at the weekend, dismissed cheaply by Sunshine Heights in Victorian Turf Cricket Association North West B1 action.
Last round, Wyndhamvale was 8-76 before the second half of the match was washed out. Last weekend was not much better with the visitors rolling them for 121 at Wyndham Vale Reserve.
While they won the toss and elected to bat, Wyndhamvale lost Liam McLaughlin for a duck and Tim Wilkes for just seven, putting the
mselves on the back foot.
First drop Luke Dennerley (16) got a start, but when he was dismissed, it triggered a collapse of 5-30, to leave the home side reeling at 7-73.If not for a fighting 39 from Ryan Radford, the scorecard would have looked far more grim, however the final total was a long way from where Wyndhamvale wanted to be.
With early wickets a key for the home side on the field, bowlers were able to send James Vella (0), Sajith Ranasinghe (2) and Muhammad Nawaz (8) back to the sheds to keep the door ajar for a comeback win.
Jay Dolliver is the pick of the bowlers so far with 2-8, but Sunshine Heights’ Shane Ramsey (24 not out) looms as the key wicket when play resumes this weekend.
In the second XI, Wyndhamvale lost two late wickets to leave their clash at Sunshine United hanging in the balance.
Wyndhamvale bowled first at Ainsworth Reserve.
A consistent bowling and fielding display saw the home side dismissed for 217 after 64 overs, thanks to four bowlers grabbing multiple wickets and two good run-outs.
New ball pair Craig Campbell (2-28 off 13 overs) and Dylan Fuller (2-23 off 12 overs) were particularly good early in the day, with run scoring made difficult as wickets fell.
However, when the chance to bat came it was a similar story to the first XI, with Ben Funnell gone for a duck and Kane Hoskin managing just three to have the visitors reeling at 2-4.
Captain Leigh Matthews (10) and Brendan Cross (6) will resume the chase on Saturday after Wyndham Vale got to stumps on 2-20 off 16 overs.
Continuing the trend, Wyndham Vale’s thirds were rolled for 94 against Aberfeldie, with Andrew Webb (29) the best performer.
Aberfeldie will resume on 1-50 on Saturday, with victory in sight.
