Tara Murray
A big pre-season has shown through early for Plenty Valley in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association north-east.
With just two players returning from last season’s squad, it’s a new-look Bats lineup that will step out on the pitch this season.
Bats cricket general manager Chris Milne said the group had put a lot of hard work in during the off season.
“The pre-season has been really good,” he said. “The commitment from the guys there has been really positive.
“The curators have been fantastic and we’ve been able to train at Yarrambat since early September.
“Everyone has got to know their roles and each other.”
The Bats kicked off their season with a win against Bayswater with a comfortable win.
Milne said it was a really good standard of cricket especially with a brand new side.
The Bats were able to make 7-299 from their overs to set the tone.
“It was good to see the guys play as well as we did and make 299 with the bat,” he said.
“Bayswater was good at the start but we were able to hold on and get a good win.”
Milne said the pitch favoured the batters and they were able to make the most of it.
He thought anything beyond 220-230 was a good score.
Opener Karthik Singh made 104 off 103 in his first game for the Bats.
“He has come over from India,” Milne said. “He came to Melbourne and was looking to play turf cricket.
“He reached out and he liked the culture. He’d had a reasonable pre-season and looked pretty good the last few weeks.
“It was a chance less 100 and took the pressure right to the opposition and he played tempo cricket in the middle overs.”
Milne said it was tough for their seam bowlers early in the innings, but their spinners got on top to bowl Bayswater out for 186.
The Bats got on top after the drinks break, taking a couple of wickets to turn the momentum.
Musaddiq ali Hamza was the pick of the bowlers with 4-34 while fellow spinner Lahiru Opatha took three wickets.
Milne said there would be plenty of players to watch out for this season.
He said Hamza and captain Simon Black would be keys in the bowling attack and were keen to see what else Singh could do with the bat.
Kishor Mahato, who opened the batting, has come out from Nepal, while Alex Cole is looking to build on playing in the first XI last season.
The Bats are at home to Donvale the next two Saturdays in a two-day clash.
