Tara Murray
Bundoora is slowly building into the Diamond Valley Cricket Association Barclay Shield season and the results are now starting to show.
Last season’s Money Shield premiers, the Bulls have now won four games for the season, including their last three.
President Stuart Adams said things were starting to come along nicely.
“We are getting there,” he said. “It wasn’t the start that we were hoping for but we’ve turned a corner and are playing a lot better.
“We were losing close games early on. I think with a lot of new players and a lot of new players in the first XI, early on it took a while to learn roles and adjust to game plans.
“They now know what they are doing.”
Adams said for them this season the focus wasn’t on making sure that they stayed up in the top flight, but ensuring they are doing things right at the club.
He said there were bigger things than results.
“Staying up is important but for us whether it’s in the top grade or any grade, it’s about building the right culture and right approach on the field.
“Results will take care of itself if you do that right.”
On Saturday, the Bulls had one of their best wins of the season, knocking off Epping.
The Pingers made 4-188 from their 40 overs.
Josh Henkel top scored with 85 not out. It was all single wicket takers for the Bulls.
Adams said they were confident of chasing down the runs,
“It was good to knock off Epping, they are a good team,” he said. “We thought 188 was a competitive score and thought we were a big chance to get the runs.
“We have plenty of good batsmen and good depth in our batting. To chase 180-190, it was a gettable score.”
The Bulls timed their run chase perfectly, hitting the winning runs with more than two overs remaining.
The Bulls finished 7-189.
“We got off to a reasonable start and [Talwinder] Prince got 60 or 70 [64] and the others were able to bat around him,” Adams said. “We were able to get home fairly convincing in the end.”
The Bulls now sit eighth on the ladder, 15 points outside the top four. The Pingers slip from first to second.
Adams said for his side, they wanted to continue what they had been doing.
“For us I think we have to keep doing the right things,” he said. “We want to keep that positive momentum going.
“It’s highly unlikely that we will play finals but I’ll aim to keep going and see what happens.”
Adams said elsewhere in the club things were going well with a number of new players and sponsors joining the club this season.
