By Tara Murray
A return of red ball cricket has seen the Rivergum we have come to know the last few years come to the fore in the North Metro Cricket Association Jika Shield competition.
While the Kookas are currently sitting third, they are yet to hit their straps as they aim for yet another finals series.
On Saturday, the Kookas showed good signs as they claimed first innings points against the Preston Baseballers.
Rivergum captain-coach Matt Perri said they felt more at home playing two-day cricket.
“We’ve been crying out for two-day cricket,” he said. “The one-day game isn’t really our game.
“Our record in one-dayers isn’t really good and we struggle for some reason.
“Two day cricket is more our strength.”
The Baseballers won the toss and elected to bat, but they would find the going tough.
They were bowled out for 74. Perri said it was a good bowling performance.
“We were able to do what we needed to,” he said.
“We put it on the bowlers to get a few early wickets and be ruthless. They can be a dangerous side on their day.
“Kyl [Ewart] was the pick of the bowlers, we’ve missed him the last few weeks.
The rest of the group chipped in and bowled a lot of maidens.”
Ewart finished with 4-10 off six overs.
Perri said the the focus for the rest of day one was to get the runs and seal first innings points.
They finished the day, 2-86. He praised the work of Chris Dunbar, who was 44 not out at stumps.
“We’ve brought Chris up from the twos where he has played the last few years and he has really flourished.
“We lost a few players at the start of the year and we have the depth and players have been coming up and playing their role.”
With six points in their keeping, Perri said they would look at claiming their second outright win of the season.
“We have nothing to lose and with the ladder so tight, we have to go for it,” he said.
“We’ll push hard for the 10 points. At what stage we’ll declare we’ll talk about during the week.”
Rivergum sits in third spot, with their eye in the remaining rounds on a top two spot.
They are 11 points off top and two points behind second. Perri said they would need to win every game in the round home to have a shot at the double chance.
In other games, Cameron is 2-19 in reply to Preston YCW District. Second placed Cobras made 9-257 against Holy Trinity and Heidelberg West made 7-221 against Rosebank.
Meanwhile, the elimination finals of the Northern Region T20 competition, including NMCA teams, are scheduled to play on Tuesday night.
