Plenty Valley’s good day with the ball was cancelled out by a disastrous start with the bat against St Bernard’s OC in Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association north-west.
St Bernard’s decision to bat looked like a good one early on, with the side 1-95 against the Bats, who needed to bounce back from a disappointing loss against Yarraville the week before.
When Tim Grant was bowled by Joe Peatman things started to turn the Bats’ way.
Peatman took another wicket not long after and then Justin Jaensch got the wicket of dangerman Chris Spinella. The wickets began to fall and the Bats took 4-8.
The rut continued and the Bats claimed the last five wickets for 29 runs.
St Bernards went from 1-95 to all out for 132.
Peatman, Simon Black and Jaensch took three wickets each, as all the bowers bowled tightly. None of the last six batsmen reached double figures.
The Bats were looking to put a few runs on the board and get through unscathed until stumps but it wasn’t the case and Simon Bray was out for a duck.
Fellow opener Ryan Pearson soon joined him back in the sheds – out for three.
The Bats will resume at 2-6.
Tara Murray
