By Tara Murray
Rivergum is starting to hit its straps in North Metro Cricket Association Jika Shield.
After an uncharacteristically shaky start to the season, the Kookas have won four out of their past five games to sit comfortably in the top four.
Kookas captain-coach Gary Bell said the form switch was gratifying.
“We’re not used to getting defeated,” he said.
“It sort of hurt us and stung us a little bit. We wanted to get back to playing some good cricket.”
Bell said the move to the two-day format in the past two rounds had worked in their favour, with their game style better suited to the longer game.
He said it allowed bowlers such as Kyl Ewart and Matthew Perri to work their way into good momentum and good spells.
With Corey Altis returning to bowl and Jarrod Bannister in some good form, along with a couple of others, the Kookas’ bowling line-up is looking strong again.
On Saturday, the Kookas finished off the work they had done on day one against Heidelberg West.
The Kookas resumed at 0-26 after restricting the Heidelberg West innings.
They had little trouble to getting the runs, finishing 1-129.
“The weather wasn’t great, but we had set the game up on day one,” Bell said.
“We were worried that the guys might have thought the job was already done.
“Scott Morley and Matt Kiely did a professional job rotating the strike and put the result beyond doubt pretty quickly.”
Kiely made 48 not out, while Morley made 47.
The Kookas will face Bundoora Park and Rosebank the next two rounds. The Kookas lost to those two teams in the first two rounds of the season.
Bell said they were keen to face them again and hopefully get a couple of wins this time.
If they can do that, they will be well placed at the Christmas break.
The Kookas are set to regain Daniel Young and Alex Jesensek for their next game, but James Bonnici is out until after Christmas after having wrist surgery.
In other results, Bundoora Park smashed Keon Park.
Having made 9-248 on day one, Bundoora Park was able to bowl Keon Park out for just 94 on Saturday.
Preston YCW and Holy Trinity were the other winners.
In the Kelly Shield, Lalor Warriors easily defeated Preston Himalayan.
