Tara Murray
Epping will get the test that it is after in the Diamond Valley Cricket Association Barclay Shield.
Sitting second with just one loss for the season, the Pingers face Rosanna this weekend in a top of the table clash.
Pingers coach Daniel Bramich said they were keen to test themselves against the best side of the competition.
“Rosanna is undefeated at the moment,” he said. “We’re the two benchmark teams in the competition this season.
“There’s a lot riding on this game and you get to see where you sit in the pecking order.”
Bramich knows while they keep adding the wins to the tally, that there is still plenty of work to do for the side.
Encouragingly, the side hasn’t been anywhere near their best but continue to come away with the points at the end of the game.
“We’ve been winning comfortably, but we haven’t had a full game,” Bramich said. “Our bowling performances have been good but we’ve had some scratchy batting performances
“Hopefully this week against the top team it all clicks for us.”
On Saturday, the Pingers had one of the performances that have been the story of their year
The Pingers restricted Banyule to 9-119. .
Akashdeep Cheema took 3-14 for the Pingers.
Bramich said they were happy with that bowling performance. The batters took their time, but the Pingers finally hit the winning runs with two balls to spare.
They finished 5-121. Nathan Gardiner top scored with 35.
Bramich said the result was closer than they would have liked, but a win is a win.
It isn’t just the top side performing well for the Pingers.
Bramich said all three senior sides were playing well, as was their women’s side.
With the thirds undermanned the last few weeks, some of the women’s players have stepped in to help out.
Bramich said it’s really good for the club.
“They’ve trained a few nights together,” he said. “They’re improving year on year, as is women’s sport in general.
“The standard has gotten better and they are capable of playing with the men.”
In the Money Shield, it was a day for the bowlers with plenty of low scores.
Bundoora moved to the top of the table with victory against the Lalor Stars.
The Stars made 9-98 from their overs with Mitchell Hayse top scoring with 25. The Bulls shared the wickets around.
The Bulls hit the winning runs in the 23rd over, finishing 5-99. Shanin Silva top scored with 37.
Bundoora United remains a game outside of the top four with a loss to Eltham,
The Bulldogs made 100 before Eltham made 2-103 in reply. Eltham now sits second on the ladder.
Laurimar got its third win of the season beating Mernda, while Bundoora Park kept its finals hopes alive with a win against Plenty and Montmorency beat Lower Eltham.
