Tara Murray
Point Cook Centrals aren’t feeling out of their league in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association Roy Picone Shield this season.
Playing in division 3 for the first time, the Sharks have one win on the board after a rain interrupted start to the season, in which only one match has been completed.
Sharks vice-president Brett Talbot said the group was finding its feet at this level.
“We had a good win, which was a 50-50 game at the end of day one,” he said. “The bowlers did the job and it was nice to show that we could get it down.
“We had a really good pre-season before we went up [divisions] later in the pre-season so it was going to be interesting to see how we fit.
“We’ve got some more confidence from that result.”
On Saturday, the Sharks were in action on day one of their clash with Moonee Valley in a two-day clash.
The Sharks were bowled out for 149 after winning the toss and deciding to bat.
Rasanjana Jayarathna top scored with 43 at the top of the order.
Talbot said they fell short of the total they were hoping for.
“We were aiming for 200-plus,” he said. “We got a lot of starts which was positive, but then the majority went out at the wrong moment.
“We were about 50-60 runs short.”
Moonee Valley started well with the bat and will resume at 3-85.
Talbot said Moonee Valley’s bats put them under pressure and they have two good batters at the crease.
“We played them once last year and they toweled us up in the first innings,” he said. “We showed a little bit in the second innings. We sort of knew what to expect.
“Luke Brock took a five fa. two matches in a row. We need to counteract him.”
Talbot said early wickets were the key on day two of the match to get back into the game.
He said they were hoping to get a few more wins on the board before Christmas to set their season up.
“It will determine what post Christmas will look like,” he said.
The club on Monday said farewell to one of its past presidents Paul Pritchard, who died after a battle with illness.
Talbot said he had a massive impact on the club.
In other results in division 3, information online said that Point Cook’s game with Keilor Park was abandoned after less than eight overs.
Point Cook was 2-5 at that stage.
In the Evans-Clark Shield, Werribee Centrals was bowled out for 200 against the Melton South Royals.
The Royals will resume at 0-1.
Bellbridge will need 202 against Seabrook.
In the Russell Pollock Shield, Melton Centrals is 4-59 in reply to Wyndham Vale’s 132.
