Point Cook Centrals got an important early win in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association Roy Picone Shield on Saturday.
After an opening round win, the Sharks faced Moonee Valley, which played off in last season’s grand final.
Despite rain falling, the two teams played the match out with the Sharks getting the wickets to get the job done.
Sharks’ Brett Talbot said they were pretty happy with the start to the season.
“We had Greenvale first up and they have come down so you never know what to expect,” he said. “It was a solid win.
“Then it was a tough game against Moonee Valley. They beat us in the semi final last year, so there was a little bit of a point to prove.
“They are a class side and to win against them was great.”
The Sharks batted on day one of the game, making 227 as they were bowled out in the 64th over.
Moonee Valley finished the day at 3-30.
Moonee Valley started day two strongly and pushed the score towards 100 before it lost another wicket.
It was game on at 6-149.
The rain then started to fall.
“The seventh, eighth and ninth wickets, it really started to fall and the umpires convened to see whether we would come off and stick it out there, “ Talbot said.
“We were that close to an outcome we decided we wanted to get an outcome. A win versus draw later in the season could decide if you play finals or not.”
Moonee Valley was bowled out for 209 in the 72nd over.
Wade Kirkwood and Navi Deol took two wickets each.
The Sharks shared the bowling around with nine players getting a bowl.
Talbot said it was hard work for the bowlers and it was three run outs that really got them going.
With some off season recruiting, Talbot said they feel like they have all bases covered now.
“We’ve got a couple of bowlers coming back from injury and trying to get some overs into them,” he said.
“We have depth and options and we look at what is plan B, C and D. We have good depth in the second XI as well.
“We had a guy in the second XI hit 100.”
The Sharks will now face Point Cook this Saturday in a one-dayer in the local derby.
Talbot said one-day games were always 50-50.
The Warriors sit 1-1 after the first two matches.
Rain ended the Warriors game against Keilor Park on Saturday.
The Warriors had already conceded first innings points on day one of the match.
The Devils were bowled out for 170 with a lead of 53. Shafraz Mohamed took five wickets for Point Cook.
The Warriors were 7-70 in their second innings when the match ended.
In the Evans-Clark Shield, Bellbridge beat Werribee Centrals, while in the Russell Pollock Shield, Wyndham Vale lost to St Andrew’s Footscray.
