Sanka Abeyruwan has spun Hoppers Crossing into a winning position against Old Mentonians in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association’s senior division.
The exciting young Cats leg-spinner snared 5-48 off 18 overs in the heat at Hogans Road as the visitors were dismissed for 177.
Abeyruwan, 21, arrived from Sri Lanka with big expectations and he’s starting to deliver.
He took a while to settle in and understand the local wickets, but in the past two matches he has taken consecutive five-wicket hauls to have 22 wickets at 18.9.
The ever reliable Darrel Brown claimed 2-41 off 14, while Dinesh Daminda took an efficient 1-25 off 14, including the prized scalp of Mentone opener Ross Zelem for 87.
The Cats faced 13 overs before stumps, finishing on 1-28, with opener Cameron Nicol (7) and Ryan Latham (13) still alive. A further 150 will see the Cats claim their third win in five games.
In west B1, the Wyndhamvale Falcons fought back late on day one to get within touching distance of victory against Kingsville Baptists at Wyndhamvale Reserve.
The Falcons managed only a meagre total of 149, Stuart Crowe top-scoring with 34.
The bowlers, led by Jae Styles (4-18), hit back to have Kingsville reeling on 9-82 at stumps.
Seabrook (3-43) is locked in a tight battle with Deer Park-Ardeer (158) at Bruce Comben Reserve.
It’s a must-win game for the Brookers, who are clinging to a spot in the top four by just one point.
There’s plenty still to unfold in the match between top-of-the-table Point Cook (5-103) and Barkly Street Uniting at Maribyrnong Reserve.
