Tara Murray
Westmeadows showed some positive signs first up in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division on Saturday.
The Warriors kicked off the season with the biggest test in senior division, taking on reigning premiers Deer Park in a two-dayer.
Warriors captain-coach Donovan Pell said they were quite happy to start their season against the Lions.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said. “Deer Park with Aaron Ayres, Aaron Shellie and Fawad Ahmed all playing.
“They are the top team and we played Yarraville Club in a practice match. We’ve played the top two teams to start the year and we’re feeling pretty confident.”
The Warriors won the toss on Saturday at Willowbrook and decided to have a bat.
They were bowled out for 204 in the 72nd over.
It was the first challenge for a renewed batting line up.
“We have Stephen Mihelakos-James at the top of the order now,” he said. “We didn’t fire and were nowhere near our best and we still made 200 which is a good effort.
“Previously we would have made 120-140 and folded. Our number seven, eight and nine in Rhys [Gleisner], Angus [Price] and Patty [De Mel] combined to make 90 odd and we were pretty happy with that.”
Gleisner top scored with 52, while Mihelakos-James made 48 at the top of the order.
The Lions will resume at 0-25 on day two after surviving five overs .
Pell said they should have had an early wicket but dropped a catch in the first over.
He said that there were some positive signs from the first day of play in front of a big Westmeadows crowd.
After just missing out on finals last season, the Warriors added Mihelakos-James and Price to the squad.
The pair both come from Victorian Premier Cricket.
“They are two quality cricketers and two quality people,” Pell said. “The team we have is really connected on and off the field.
“They are from the area. Angus is from Westmeadows and they are best mates.
“I’ve been in contact with him for a couple of years about when he leaves premier cricket that he comes to Westmeadows.”
Pell said they wanted to be in the mix again for the top four coming the end of the season.
“There’s a clear top two to three teams and we’ll be fighting for that third and fourth spot.
“It’s a clear objective of the playing group that we want to play finals.”
In other matches, Craigieburn is in a solid position against Aberfeldie.
The Eagles bowled Abers out for 177 in the 67th over.
Dilum Weerarathna and Joshua Rasu took three wickets each for the Eagles.
The Eagles will resume at 1-16.
In the Steve McNamara Shield, Tullamarine is in trouble against Maribyrnong Park St Mary’s.
The Demons were bowled out for just 81 with the Lions 0-16 at stumps.
Greenvale Kangaroos are 0-15 in reply to Williamstown Imperials 2-270.
In the Evans-Clark Shield, Roxburgh Park has already conceded first innings points after being bowled out for just 18.
The Falcons are 7-74 in their second innings after Melton South Royals declared at 7-84.
