Despite a season’s-best batting performance, Greenvale Kangaroos find themselves on the back foot in Premier Cricket against Melbourne after day one.
Looking for their first win of the season, the Kangaroos finally put together a score of more than 200 after electing to bat.
Yet it looked as though they’d made the wrong decision with the score at 2-2.
A partnership between Joshua Trembearth and Harry Dearden settled the Kangaroos, the pair, along with Jack Rhodes and Sunam Gautam, pushing the score past 200.
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The Kangaroos looked set for a big finish before losing 6-29 and tallying 243.
Gautam top-scored with 82 and was second- last out.
The Kangaroos got an early break, dismissing Melbourne’s playing coach Andrew Kent for just six. A second wicket to Aaron Smillie didn’t halt Melbourne, though, and it’s in with a chance at 2-91 after day one. Captain Michael Hill and star batsman Seb Gotch will resume on Saturday.
The Kangaroos’ Victoria Turf Cricket Association side is in for a fight if it wants to continue its winning start in senior division.
South Caulfield’s batsmen made the most of perfect batting conditions on the way to 8-322, which was one of three 300-plus scores in senior division.
Chathura Darshana was the best of the Kangaroos’ bowlers, taking 7-67 off 30 overs including seven maidens.
Elsewhere, Raju Jagodage’s 112 not out set up Tullamarine’s impressive 271 against Beaumaris. He was well supported by David Zahorodni with 52.
In north A1, Jacana has already conceded first innings points against St Albans. Sent in to bat, Jacana was skittled for 141 in just 48 overs.
Praneeth Jayasundera was the only batsman to get going for Jacana, his counter-attacking 49 including 10 fours. At stumps, St Albans had a first innings lead of 35.
After being dismissed for 140 by Glenroy, Westmeadows bowler and former Sri Lanka Test paceman Chanaka Welegedara showed he’s still got it, snaring two wickets and cracking a batman’s helmet, as Glenroy slumped to 5-59 at stumps.
Craigieburn is 4-29 chasing Taylors Lakes’ 209.
