Tara Murray
A tight bowling display got the Greenvale Kangaroos across the line in the Victorian Premier Cricket women’s seconds competition on Sunday.
While several matches were called off after heavy rain on Friday and Saturday, the Kangaroos faced bottom side Essendon Maribyrnong Park.
The Kangaroos were made to work hard for the victory.
Sent in, the Kangaroos got off to a strong start with three of the top four all getting starts.
Any hopes of a big total ended when the tail crumbled, with the Kangaroos bowled out for 148 with six overs remaining.
Chedean Nation top scored with 46, while Noura Abdul Qader made 27 at the top of the order.
The Bombers lost early wickets before getting a partnership going.
Scoring was hard and the run rate continued to push up. In the end they fell short, making 4-118 in their 40 overs.
Lily Pelosi took two wickets for the Kangaroos, while Nation and captain-coach Catherine Morrow bowled tightly to restrict the scoring.
Morrow said she was happy with how the group responded after not putting out the best batting performance.
“We bowled and fielded really well,” she said. “We were a bit disappointed in ourselves that we couldn’t bat out our overs.
“It’s one of our KPIs [key performance indicators] to bat out our overs.
“We bowled some good lines and in the field attacked the ball really well to come away with a good win.”
After 11 rounds, the Kangaroos sit in sixth spot with five wins and five losses.
It’s an improvement on last season when they won just three games.
Morrow said they always expected to get better this season, their second in premier cricket.
“We’ve had 12 months in the system and some of the young players are really stepping up now and playing really well,” she said.
“Getting Chedean Nation, who is a West Indian international, has certainly helped and lifted the girls more with how they go about cricket, training wise and game day.”
Morrow said there were plenty of positive signs from the younger players coming through.
She pointed out Noura Abdul Qader, who at 13 and is in the Vic Metro under-16 squad, and Bailey Holt, who had secured their spots in first XI.
She said the development of Lily Pelosi and Ellie Liron had been really good as well.
The Kangaroos face Dandenong this Sunday.
Morrow said finals was the aim for the group as they continue to grow their women’s program.
This year they have four teams, with the majority of them under-14 and part of the club’s strong academy program.
“Finals is the goal of the club of course,” she said. “We want to be in premier firsts and that is the goal of the girls in the squad.
“We are certainly aiming to play finals this year. “
Meanwhile, rain played havoc on Saturday in the men’s premier cricket.
Clubs had to report to grounds, but rain and wet grounds prevented play from getting underway.
The Kangaroos this Saturday face Northcote in a one-dayer at home.
