There wasn’t a happier dressing room in Victorian Premier Cricket on Saturday night than the Greenvale Kangaroos.
The Kangaroos, the competition’s strugglers, finally recorded their first win of the season in a thriller against Carlton.
It was almost a year since the Kangaroos had previously tasted victory, against Footscray Edgewater on January 31.
For Kangaroos coach Stan Nell, the result showed the hard work was starting to pay off.
“It’s never been about the results for us,” Nell said. “It’s about developing the playing group and giving young kids opportunities.
“It was a good win and I’m really pleased for the boys. They did a mighty job.
“After the game they sat down and realised the hard work was working and made the commitment to keep it going.
“That was really pleasing for me.”
The Kangaroos went into day two of the match confident things could go their way after making 292, their highest score of the season, the previous weekend.
“I was confident we could defend that score,” Nell said. “Any time you have a score between 250 and 300 you’re a huge chance to win.
“We were looking to bowl them out. They were desperate to get the win and stay in touch with the top eight.”
Carlton started their innings well and were 0-102. But even then Nell was still confident his side could win.
“I knew we were still in the game,” he said. “You can’t bat the way they were for the whole match.
“The longer they were in the middle the harder was for the batsmen coming in afterwards.
“My boys proved me right. I don’t envy anyone chasing that target.”
Carlton was bowled out for 286, six runs short of the Kangaroos.
Trent Waring took three wickets for the Kangaroos, while Jack Rhodes, Sunam Gautam and James Rosewarne took two each.
What was pleasing for Nell was the way his side responded after the heavy defeat against
Ringwood in the previous match, the Kangaroos’ worst game of the season.
“I told them they would be judged on how well they responded,” he said.
“I see that match [against Ringwood] as a one-off that occurred after the Christmas break. They may have taken their eye off the ball a little bit.
“They have refocused and worked really hard.”
The Kangaroos now face Camberwell in a two-day match at Greenvale Reserve.
They will be boosted by the return of captain Kyle Adams.
