Tara Murray
A return to the two-day format was something different for Plenty Valley in the Victorian Sub-District Association north-south.
As all teams returned to the longer format for the first time since before COVID-19, many of the Bats players were playing two-day cricket for the first time.
Bats captain-coach Michael Rogneda said it was a challenge that everyone had been looking forward to.
“No one has played it for almost three years,” he said.
“It was great. We had to change the game plan and manipulate it a little bit. Almost none of our guys had played two-day cricket at our club except for three.
“Some might have played in the lower grades when they were 12 or 13.”
Facing Preston at Preston, the Bats made 7-252 after winning the toss.
Naman Sharma top scored with 66 at the top of the order as all batters but one got starts.
Besides not making the most of the short boundary, Rogneda was pretty happy with the total that they put on the board.
“We put on a really competitive score,” he said.
“Naman Sharma opened the batting and made 60 something off 170 balls. It was his role to help us get to tea only two wickets down.
“We were three down which was OK, but it gave us a good position to attack and go harder in the back half.
“For our first two-dayer I was really happy that we executed the game plan quite well.”
Rogneda said they would have to bowl well this Saturday if they’re to get their fourth win of the season.
With a different line up to last season, it’s been a somewhat challenging season at times.
Rogneda said frustrating was the best way to describe it.
“When you’re working with a young side you get a lot of little wins,” he said. “You take a few steps forward and then a few steps back which is what we’ve had.
“As a whole we’re improved throughout the year, but we still have a lot of areas in the game that we can improve.
“They’re willing to listen and take on feedback and put it into practice at training.
“We have three wins which is a reward for what we are trying to do.”
Rogneda said overall numbers had been pretty good with the side getting some good wins across all the grades.
He said their second XI was also a really young side, in good signs for the future.
The Bats last week also started their T20 campaign, losing to St Bernard’s OC.
St Bernard’s made 4-163 from its overs, with Simon Black the pick of the bowlers with three wickets.
The Bats fell just short, finishing 7-154. Henry Cullen top scored with 44.
Tara Murray
