By Tara Murray
Lalor Stars’ perfect start to the Diamond Valley Cricket Association Money Shield season continued with a strong win against Heidelberg.
The Stars batsmen got the job done on Saturday to make it five wins in a row.
Needing 190 for victory, the Stars made the runs in the 66th over, finishing 3-190.
Alex Manoilovski was the standout for the Stars, making 112.
Stars’ coach Steven Kemp said Manoilovski was in career best form.
“He’s been our best batsman this year, along with Jordan [Steele], he said.
“He made 80 last week and a 100 this week. He’s been working really hard.
“He’s normally an aggressive batsman, but he has knuckled down … He was just 50 at tea, where he would normally be on 100. [It was] a lot more mature knock.”
Kemp said the good start to the season was a result of hard work during the off season.
He said they were sticking to the game plan and everyone was playing their roles. And it wasn’t just in the top side it was showing through.
“Our second and third sides are also sitting on top and our fourth side is sitting fourth,” he said.
“We had all four teams win two weeks in a row and I don’t think that’s happened in more than 10 years.”
Kemp said the aim was to continue the same form for the last two matches before the Christmas break. Two wins would leave the Stars’ top side on 7-0 and set up their season.
“We need to work hard and keep doing what we’ve been doing,” he said.
The Stars’ good form is not limited to the Money Shield, but also the Northern Region T20 competition.
Last season’s runners-up, the Stars are through to the finals after topping their group in the round robin stage.
Kemp said they were fielding a similar team to the one they fielded last season.
In other Money Shield results, Mernda had a tough day against Lower Plenty, losing outright.
Lower Plenty had a 129-run first innings lead and was able to restrict Mernda to 131 in its second innings. Lower Plenty got the runs quickly, finishing 1-6 off three balls.
Old Paradians suffered its first loss of the season, losing to Eltham.
Eltham finished 8-203 to overtake the Old Paradians total of 202.
Mill Park also suffered an outright loss, while Bundoora United was smashed by Greensborough.
In the Barclay Shield, Bundoora’s bowlers did the job against Epping.
Defending 138, the Bulls bowled Epping out for 98. Hatinder Pal took 4-10 for the Bulls.
Todd Hughes was the pick of the batsmen for Epping, making 26.
