Craigieburn got off to the ideal start in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association Tony Issacs Shield Division 1 north.
Hoping to get the season started on the right note, the Eagles recovered from what could have been a tough day, to record an easy win against Keilor Park.
Keilor Park won the toss and elected to bat and looked on track for a big score. Craigieburn’s playing coach Chris Laffan said they thought they were in a bit of trouble early on.
“After 16-17 overs we were looking like we would have to be chasing a massive total of 250-plus,” he said.
“They were 1-80 or 90 after 15 overs. It was looking pretty daunting.
“Austin [Wynne], a young bloke who has put in a good preseason, bowled eight overs straight and took a few wickets to help us.”
Craigieburn restricted Keilor Park to 8-196.
Wynne finished with 3-24 off his eight overs, while Mick Bury and Josh Eaton took two wickets each.
Craigieburn got off to a flying start in their innings and were well above the run rate early on.
They maintained control throughout the innings, finishing 4-202 with nearly 10 overs still remaining.
Laffan said it was a really good batting performance.
“At the start we set some targets and we wanted to be 40 after 10 overs, Mick [Bury] had us there after three and half overs.
“Mick went out there an made 30 odd quickly. Sammy [Laffan] and Josh [Eaton] batted quickly as well and looked comfortable.
“It’s good signs going forward.”
Sammy Laffan top scored with 70 not out , while Eaton made 48 not out.
The coach said this was the sort of game they would have dropped last season, showing they had made inroads in the last 12 months.
He said they were more balanced this season as well.
“We’re got a little bit more depth and a few older heads in the seconds,” he said.
“Everyone is a local and it’s such a good platform for training.
“We’re putting in the right steps.”
Laffan said they were aiming to make finals this season, having finished eighth last season.
“We know who is who now and it’s quite a local competition as well which is good.
“We think we will be pretty competitive and think we can play finals.”
In other results, Westmeadows lost to West Coburg.
The Warriors made 8-172, which West Coburg chased down with seven wickets in hand.
In the Peter Howarth Shield Division 1 west competition, Airport West St Christophers defeated Greenvale Kangaroos and Tullamarine lost to Aberfeldie.
In Russell Pollock Shield division 5, Jacana lost to Aberfeldie Park.
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