By Tara Murray
Plenty Valley bounced back from a poor performance the previous round, to beat Endeavour Hills in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association north-east competition.
It was a strong display from the Bats, who started well with the bat before completing the task with the ball to seal the win.
The Bats made 6-249 from their overs.
Bats captain-coach James Dickinson said they were able to put in a more complete batting performance this week.
“We put the icing on the cake, as opposed to last week.
“We were able to put some runs on the board in the back part of the innings. Daniel Heatley and Simon Bray put the icing on the cake.
“Daniel has continued on from the strong form he had last year, while Simon has been opening, but we nestled him down the order.
“He got ones and twos down the ground and hit boundaries when he needed to.”
Rory Collins top-scored with 71, as he moved to the top of the order having batted down the order in the first two matches.
Dickinson said Collins was comfortable in that spot, having opened the batting during his five years in England.
Endeavour Hills never looked like getting close, as tight bowling stopped them right from the start.
While opening bowlers Simon Black and Luke Andree got one wicket between them, they did a brilliant job restricting the batsmen.
“Black, Andree and Mitch Harris squished them early on in the innings and didn’t allow them to get a lot of runs.
“Even though they didn’t take wickets, they had them restricted,” Dickinson said.
Debutant Ikroop Dhanoa showed no nerves taking 4-20. The 14-year-old came into the side to replace veteran Sean Ayres, who is overseas.
“They’re at opposite ends of their careers,” Dickinson said of Dhanoa and Ayres.
“The guy is talented and he’s gone through the rep program for Victoria.
“He got an opportunity in the twos after a strong pre-season and with Ayres out he came in and got an opportunity.”
The win moves the Bats to 2-1 in the early stages of the season.
Dickinson said they were still working on getting a more consistent game from week to week.
“A few simple mistakes cost us the week before,” he said.
“We have six genuine bowlers and with the bat we bat quite deep and have several players who can bat at the top or down the order. We’ll look to nestle some of the guys in spot now.”
The Bats this week face Mt Waverley in another one-dayer. Mt Waverley is coached by former Bats coach Michael Sheedy, who made 108 at the weekend.
In other weekend games, Ivanhoe, Noble Park, Coburg, Bayswater, Mt Waverley and Kew were the winners.
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