Gladstone Park is starting to reap the rewards of promoting home grown talent in the North West Metropolitan Cricket Association.
Runners-up last year in the George Luscombe Shield, the Burras have had a slow start to the season after losing half its grand final team.
On Saturday, they won their second match of the season against Campbellfield, and were in complete control of the game after sending Campbellfield in to bat.
The Burras bowled its opposition out for 96, with skipper Andrew Shanahan taking four wickets.
The chase was a quick one, with the Burras reaching their target in just 22 overs. Ashan DeSilva top-scored 21 in his side’s total of 5-97.
Burras’ president Glenn Smerdon said it was good to get some results for the hard work that’s being put in.
He said while there was some short term pain after losing half the top team, it would benefit the club in the long term.
“We are emphasising our junior program and play home-grown talent,” he said.
“Everyone but one player [Shanahan] has played juniors at the club.
“It’s a rebuilding phase and we’re confident we are on the right track.”
Smerdon said some of younger talent was starting to shine through.
“We had three under-18 players play on the weekend,” he said. “Matthew Harrington took seven wickets in a match earlier in the season, Jake Lloyd got his first wicket on the weekend and Ashan is our best batsman in the side.
“Michael Gatt didn’t play yesterday, but he has returned from Greenvale to play with us again. They’re not just good players, but they are also good clubmen.”
Smerdon said the aim this season was to continue to build on the work done by past committees. He said the club was thrilled with the performance of new coach Shanahan, saying he was performing “above all expectations”.
“We expect to win between six and eight games for the season,” Smerdon said. “We would like to finish in the top four.
“We are starting to see the results.”
In other results, the Northern Lions remain undefeated in the Vic Kyte Shield. The Lions chased down Kealba-Green Gully’s score of 7-125 with two wickets in hand.
Donnybrook defeated Gladstone Park’s second side with Donnybrook skipper Amit Kumar Sharma making 94 in his side’s total of 228.
Gladstone Park was bowled out for 195.
Clarkefield Brumbies easily accounted for Craigieburn. Craigieburn could only make 9-91, with Brumbies reaching the total with the loss of one wicket.
