Falcons grounded as bats misfire again

Roxburgh Park Broadmeadows’ poor start to the Sub-District cricket season continued in a big way on Saturday.

The Falcons, last season’s grand finalist, followed a loss to Preston in the opening match of the season with a poor batting performance on the first day of its two-day clash with Brunswick.

Sent into bat, they were bowled out for just 130 with 37 overs left in their innings.

Opening batsman Jedidiah Kanagasabapathy top-scored with 23 in a 39-run opening partnership with Kurtley Brandt.

At stumps, Brunswick was in control at 4-104 in reply, Kamal Maan taking three of the four wickets.

Plenty Valley, on the other hand, is on the way to two wins from the first two matches after taking control of the game against Preston.Preston started well and was 0-42 before Bats bowlers Sean Ayres and Michael Croxford started to hit the right line.

Ayres took six wickets and Croxford chipped in with two to restrict Preston to 148.

The Bats will resume at 1-22 this Saturday with Michael Sheedy, who was promoted up the order, the only player out.

In the Diamond Valley Cricket’s Barclay Shield, Research Eltham Collegians have already secured first-innings points against Old Paradians/St Francis.

In a day for the bowlers, the Collegians were bowled out for just 92, with Supun Madusanka Pasikku Hennadige and Damian Wegener taking four wickets each.

But Pasikku Hennadige, with 18, was one of only two Old Paradians batmen to reach double figures as they were skittled for 69.

Plenty needs quick wickets against Riverside if it is to get its first win of the season.

Riverside is 4-77 in reply to Plenty’s 129.

Bundoora United, Mernda and Bundoora all lost wickets just before stumps in their chases against Epping, Lower Eltham and Macleod.

United will resume at 2-12 chasing Epping’s 189, while Mernda is 1-4 chasing Lower Eltham’s 174.

Bundoora is 3-46 in reply to Macleod’s 138.

In North Metro Cricket, Lalor Warriors skipper Todd Hughes was caught on 99 as his side made 178 against North Brunswick/Rosebank in the Jika Shield.

Rivergum and Keon Park are in good positions against Darebin Chargers and Olympic Colts.

Rivergum made 207 against the Chargers, who resume on 0-10, while Keon Park made 9-229 against Olympic Colts.