Plenty Valley inflicted Brunswick’s first loss of the Victorian Sub-district Cricket Association north-west season.
With both teams sitting in the top three entering the match, it was always going to be a premier battle.
The Bats batted first and were in a bit of trouble at 3-50, before skipper James Dickinson and Daniel Heatley settled the side.
The two put on 94 for the fourth wicket partnership before Heatley fell for 55. Ashur Morrison came in and took over the run scoring.
Dickinson got his first 50 of the season before he was out for 54.
The Bats pushed on, making 6-235 from 80 overs.
Morrison finished 43 not out.
The Bats started well with the ball, getting Karl Mayne and Charles Aitken cheaply to have the Wicks in trouble at 2-5.
When Liam Murphy went for three, Brunswick was 3-13 with Plenty Valley completely in control.
The Wicks steadied, but the loss of two batsmen for just two runs set them back again.
A few wickets later the Wicks were 7-99 and struggling.
They were bowled out for 118 with nearly 18 overs remaining.
Simon Black was the pick of the bowlers for the Bats taking 3-23 off 13 overs. Justin Jaensch and Joe Peatman took two wickets each.
Bats’ captain James Dickinson said it was good to get a win against one of the side’s which has been the benchmark so far. “It’s was a good win, a hard fought win,” he said. Dickinson was full of praise for Heatley’s batting during the match.
“It was a really patient innings early on, before he started to get going. He’s had a consistent year and has been training really hard.”
He said it was nice to pick up a few runs himself.
Dickinson said if they could win one if not both of the one-dayers before Christmas it would help set up their season.
The win moves the Bats to equal points with the Wicks, who entered the match undefeated. Williamstown is three points clear of the two teams.
Brunswick won’t have long to lick its wounds with the two teams facing each other again on Tuesday (the 12th) in the second round of the T20 competition. The Bats then face Preston on Saturday in a one-dayer.
Meanwhile, in Victorian Women’s Premier Cricket, the Bats fell short against Box Hill.
Sent in, Box Hill made 4-117 from its 20 overs. Jane Riley took two wickets for the Bats, while Kiara Jones and Providence Cowdrill took a wicket apiece. The Bats started slowly and were in trouble at 4-42, before the middle order settled. It wasn’t enough, with the Bats finishing 6-107.
