Greenvale skipper Jon Kent believes his side can secure the minor premiership in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association’s senior division with a victory this weekend, despite posting one of its lowest totals of the season on Saturday.
Playing seventh-ranked St Bernard’s, Greenvale was sent in on a bowlers’ wicket and dismissed for 170.
It was the Kangaroos’ third-lowest completed total of the season, ahead of only 169 in a loss to Airport West St Christophers and 146 in a win over Keilor.
Chinthaka Jayasinghe led the way with 59 off 78 balls, while Ed Wilson dug in for 24 from 104.
Greenvale’s innings came to an end after 71 overs, leaving St Bernard’s with nine to face before stumps.
Jeremy Brown bowled five overs and snared the key wicket of St Bernard’s skipper Craig Osborne, who looked dangerous for 16, leg before wicket.
St Bernard’s finished the day on 1/22. Brown took 1/5 from his five, but Jayasinghe’s two overs were expensive, costing 15 runs.
Kent admitted the total was not ideal but backed his bowlers to roll St Bernard’s.
“I’d have bowled if I’d won the toss,” he said. “It was pretty soft early. We were confident that if we got through the first session or two it would dry and flatten out as the day went on.
“It’s not the sort of score we’ve been posting in the last few weeks but we still think it’s competitive.
“The outfield was quite slow and to their credit they bowled very well. They put the breaks on us and bowled to the conditions.
“We’re pretty confident of getting the win and getting Osborne late was the key for us. If we get our balls in the right areas and take early wickets we can defend our total.”
Greenvale’s second XI is in good position, having bowled out St Bernard’s for 121 from 44.2 overs. Adam Meiorin took 6/60 from 16.2 overs and Jarryd Ellis was barely playable, snaring 3/18 from 10.
The Kangaroos were 4/89 by stumps, with Rhys Johnson the stronghold with 45 not out. Matthew Lucente laid a solid foundation with 28.
The seconds are third last, but could jump as high as sixth with an outright victory.
