Hoppers Crossing was smarting at having to play catch-up on the rest of the VTCA senior division after the horror show of its opening-round match.
The Cats wasted no time rejoining the pack with a merciless 10-wicket outright win against Keilor at Hogans Road Reserve on Saturday.
“It was a good opportunity to basically get those points back, given we had a poor result first up,” Cats president Steve McNamara said. “A good result, a huge bonus.”
The Cats had secured first innings points on day one, but there was no hiding from the fact they had more ground to make up on the first-up winners.
The hosts set about building a big lead that would trouble the inexperienced Keilor batsmen.
They posted a quick-fire 8-213 before declaring with a healthy lead of 98.
Darrel Brown, the inspirational skipper, kick-started the innings with 73, but the second day belonged to Sanka Abeyruwan (53) and Will Gardner (43 not out).
Gardner’s knock was a real crowd-pleaser.
“We went out there with a positive attitude chasing quick runs,” McNamara said. “It was just the right situation for him because he hits with enormous power.
“He came in and really took to the bowling.”
Keilor once again disappointed with the bat.
The Blues were bowled out for 115 in their first dig and fared only slightly better with 119 in the second.
Brown and Ryan Latham took four second-innings wickets apiece for the Cats.
All-rounder Latham is thriving on his elevation from last year’s second XI champion player to first-team regular this campaign.
“He was earmarked to play a lot of first XI cricket this year,” McNamara said.
“He bowls a sharpish medium and does a fair bit off the wicket and in the air, so he’s a really adaptable bowler for a lot of conditions.”
The Cats were set 22 for victory and passed the target without a blemish.
They face a much sterner test on the road against Yarraville Club in a two-dayer starting on Saturday but can take heart from the fact they were the only side to trip up the Clubbers on their home turf last summer.
“It’s always a tough assignment, but the boys are looking forward to it,” McNamara said.
“You have a look at that order with [Aaron] Mato, [Adam] Contessa and [Justin] Baker – they’re all quality players and if they click, they can make a big score.”
