Greenvale Kangaroos’ 2019 got off to a perfect start when they recorded their second win of the Victorian Premier Cricket season.
With a focus on continuing the improvement that had come in the lead-up to the Christmas break, the Kangaroos started the new year strongly against the Camberwell Magpies.
Kangaroos captain-coach Matthew Love said building on what they had done last year was a key message to the playing group.
“We wanted to push on forward and keep improving what we had been doing before the break,” he said.
“I’m rapt to get that first win for the year on the board … it’ll give us confidence heading into the final rounds.”
The Kangaroos won the toss and elected to bat, making 9-183.
Love said it had been a real grind to push the total to that score – one they thought was very defendable.
“Our tail end stood up late and showed the importance of getting every run on the board that we could,” he said.
Sunam Gautam continued his good form with the bat, top-scoring with 37.
Love said he had spoken to Gautam about making sure he finished the season well.
“He was the only batsman that was going at nearly a run a ball and he made some of us others look silly at times,” Love said.
Jack James, in his first XI debut, scored 23 and Bernard Kelly made 26.
Love said having had a chance to get a good look at the pitch, they were confident they could get the job done.
They did – by bowling the Magpies out for 158.
“Everyone bowled really well and we backed it up in the field,” he said.
Gautam and Nathan Johnson took three wickets each for the Kangaroos.
Kyle Adams, in his 100th Premier Cricket game, took two wickets.
Love said they found out about the milestone on game day.
“We mentioned it before the game and then during the break,” Love said.
“He bowled his 10 overs straight out and set the tone for our innings and deserved a couple more wickets.”
The Kangaroos play a one-dayer this week against St Kilda before the final four games return to the two-day format.
The Kangaroos enjoyed a good weekend, with their Victorian Turf Cricket Association division 1 side getting its first win of the season.
The Kangaroos restricted Airport West St Christophers to 9-183 from its overs, with Jacob Thompson taking 3-19.
The Kangaroos finished their innings at 6-184 to seal victory. Matthew Lucente top-scored with 72.
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