Plenty Valley started the Victorian Sub‐District Cricket Association north‐east season with few few expectations for teenage batsman Will Wright.
It was the young Englishman’s first season playing in Australia and although the Bats were expecting the Lincolnshire cricketer to be pretty handy but didn’t see what would come next.
Bats’ coach Michael Sheedy said Wright, 19, had exceeded all their expectations.
“He’s had an amazing year,” Sheedy said.
“It’s always hard to get a take on how good English cricketers are as you never know how they will adjust to Australian conditions.
“Credit to Simon Bray who got Will out here. They played together at the Lindum club and he liked what he saw in Will.”
Already the Bats leading scorer and sitting among the top batsmen in the competition, Wright capped off his debut season with an unbeaten 137 against Endeavour Hills on Saturday.
“He has done heaps for us this year,” Sheedy said.
“It was only his second score over 50 but most of his scores have been in the 30s and 40s.”
Wright’s century led the Bats to an easy win after rain prevented them from playing the previous two weeks.
The Bats made 3‐265 off its overs before bowling out Endeavour Hills for 117.
“It felt like the start of the season again,” Sheedy said. “It was good to see sunshine when I woke up.
“We expected to win this game but it was more the manner in which we won.
“What happened with the batting was really good.
“And it was exciting to see Justin [Jaensch] get early poles. We need him to be in form in March if we are to win finals.
“Rubi [Sunan Rubauyat] bowled really well and that’s good to see as he has been a little underdone.”
Pleasingly for the Bats, all three of their imports are starting to find form at the right end of the season, continuing a trend that has happened at the club in recent years.
“I’d like to think the culture of the club has something to do with it,” Sheedy said. “All the players know what to expect, individual contributions for club success.
“The guys have fitted in really well, especially towards the end of the season.”
The win sees the Bats second on the ladder, three points behind Mt Waverley.
“We want to finish in the top two and get a home final and then a home semi‐final if we win the first final,” Sheedy said.
“We have to beat Kew this week and they’re in good form after bowling out Roxburgh Park for 53.
“It’s a bit of a grudge match.
“We play Mt Waverley in the final round and it could come down to that match for top spot.”
Meanwhile, Kew thrashed Roxburgh Park Broadmeadows.
The Falcons gave themselves a chance by restricting Kew to a very chasable 151, with Mitch Streiff taking three wickets.
But then Extras (14) top‐scored and Streiff (12) was the only batsmen to make double figures in the total of 53.
