By Tara Murray
Plenty Valley couldn’t have asked for a better start to the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association north-east division.
After a slow start with the bat, the Bats produced a stunning innings to take control against Coburg.
The Bats smashed 8-396 on the back of not one, but two special innings.
Bats captain-coach James Dickinson said he hadn’t seen many innings like the two he did on Saturday.
At the top of the order, Ryan Pearson made a massive 172 which included 30 fours.
“At 4-80-odd the game could have gone either way,” Dickinson said. “We got a good partnership between Ryan and Rory Collins.
“It was a special innings by Ryan. He’s grown a lot the last couple of years.
“He had to work hard early on, before the bowlers got fatigued and he spread the field.”
Coming in at number eight, veteran Sean Ayres had 97 not out off 73, including 11 fours and four sixes.
Dickinson said Coburg still had three overs remaining to bowl when the umpires called stumps.
“It’s a luxury to have his [Ayres’] experience down the order,” he said. “If he knew they were going to call stumps he probably would have gone for the century.”
Collins, in his first game for the Bats, chipped in with 57.
Dickinson said the key for them next week was to get early wickets.
He said with the quick field at Yarrambat runs could be made quickly. The game was moved to Yarrambat because Coburg’s ground wasn’t ready.
Dickinson, in his first season as coach, said the off season had been a good one for the club.
“There’s a lot of younger guys involved throughout all the grades,” he said.
“They’re training strong and adapting to what we are trying to teach them.”
The top side is expected to look a bit different this season.
In round one alone, the Bats had four players make their first XI debut for the club. They come into the side with varying experience.
“Mitch Harris was playing in our fourths last season and has had a ripper pre-season.
“Luke Andree has been out of the game for a couple of years and has come back.
“Callum Nankervis is from Wang [Wangaratta]. Rory Collins has played at premier level before, but has been in England the last five years.
“He’s just moved to the area.”
Dickinson said the first aim for the Bats this season was to ensure they have more consistency in their game.
From there he said they wanted to make finals.
“Anything can happen from there.”
In Women’s Premier Cricket, Plenty Valley started the season with a win against Essendon Maribyrnong Park. The Bats made 127, before bowling EMP out for 120. Tayla Vlaeminck and Rhiann O’Donnell took nine wickets between them for the Bats.
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