It’s all aboard the good ship Seabrook this summer. The Saints seem to be cruising in calm waters en route to a VTCA west A1 cricket finals showing.
After five consecutive wins, the Saints are in second place on the ladder, with only two unfortunate wash-outs standing between them and the summit.
Such excitement and anticipation has not been felt for a long time at Seabrook.
“The morale is huge, everyone is just loving it,” Saints’ captain Leigh Edwards said. “We’re getting huge numbers at training, everyone is rocking up switched on, and it’s just fantastic when everyone is up and about.
“Hopefully, finals are begging.”
As captain of the ship, Edwards is on high alert to potential dangers. He is constantly at his players to improve, no matter how big their victories have been.
So it was on Saturday – Seabrook was like a pirate ship in its 84-run dismantlement of Melton South at Bruce Comben Reserve, extracting just about everything possible from its batsmen, with 9-222 off 40 overs.
Bowlers followed suit to roll Melton South for 138.
Even after such a commanding win, Edwards felt there was scope to improve.
“We probably left about 20 runs short out there,” he said of the batting.
“I was a little bit disappointed in that.
“It’s probably nit-picking when you walk off at the end of the day with 220 … but it’s me trying to get some more out of the boys.
“There’s room for improvement every game.”
Opening batsmen Robert Engler (35) and Stephen Morgan (49) built the platform for a big total.
The Saints had 82 runs on the board before the loss of their first wicket.
“We got off to a flyer with the two openers,” Edwards said. “They really set it up.”
Edwards cashed in, battering a tiring bowling attack to make 81, including five fours and a remarkable seven sixes.
Dilip Sarkhell added 27 and, before you knew it, Seabrook had their match-winning score.
Hitesh Bavarva was the pick of the Seabrook bowlers with 4-11, but Edwards was not selling short anyone who toiled away with the ball and in the field on such a scorching hot day.
“Most of the guys bowled well,” Edwards said.
“If you look through the stats through the season, most of our bowlers have chipped in.
“We’re not reliant on one bowler to get the job done every single week.”
Seabrook will host bottom side County West in a one-day game on Saturday.
