By Tara Murray
Bundoora will need to bat well to claim the Diamond Valley Cricket Association Barclay Shield after some lapses on day one proved costly.
The Bulls, who are playing in their first top grade grand final in 20 years, are facing Rosanna in the grand final over two Saturdays to be crowned the DVCA’s best side.
Home side Rosanna had the better of day one, but the Bulls ensured they remain in the fight with a late comeback.
Coach Wayne Wunhym said it was a mixed day for the side.
“They batted really well and we let them get away early in the day,” he said. “We were able to pull them back which is encouraging.”
After Rosanna’s strong start, which included two of its top five scoring half centuries, Wunhym said they focused on sticking to the process and bowling to the field.
They were able to do that and it changed the game and bought the Bulls back into it.
It was pleasing for Wunhym that the side didn’t give up and stuck to the task at hand.
Rosanna finished the day at 9-209, with Dalton Marsh top scored with 52.
Skipper Shupinder Taggar took four wickets for the Bulls, while Narinder Sharma took three wickets.
“Chasing 200, that is where we thought we would be chasing at the start of the day,’ Wunhym said. “After they started 1-100 it is good to have restricted them to that total as it could have been a lot more.”
The Bulls have scored more than 200 just twice this season, while have been closer in a number of other games.
The last of those was in the final round of the season when it chased down Rosanna’s 7-201 with one ball remaining to ensure a finals berth.
Wunhym said they were confident they could get the runs.
“We will still have to bat well,” he said. “We can’t afford to lose wickets in clumps like we have sometimes this season.”
The Bulls second XI also have work to do in its grand final against South Morang.
Day two was set to be played on Sunday, but with rain has been pushed to the reserve day this Saturday making it a big day for the Bulls.
In the D-grade competition, the Bulls were bowled out for 118 with South Morang finishing day one at 2-22.
Callan Jones top scored with 24 for the Bulls as he was the only player to score more than 20.
Blair Cass took three wickets for the Lions.
Wunhym said the Lions bowled and fielded really well.
“We gave away wickets early,” he said.
The rest of the other grand finals for Sunday were also washed out.
In the C-grade competition, Research Eltham Collegians have already claimed first innings points.
