Greenvale Kangaroos started the new year with a win and a loss when Victorian Premier Cricket finally resumed at the weekend after the Christmas break and a first-day washout.
The Roos beat Frankston Peninsula at Greenvale Oval on Saturday, limiting the visitors to 9-173 in their 50 overs then reaching the target with two wickets and almost two overs to spare.
Only opener Samuel Wise was able to get any momentum in Frankston’s innings, making 71 before falling with the score at 142.
With 3-28, all-rounder Jack Shantry was best of the Greenvale bowlers.
The Kangaroos started poorly in reply, both openers back in the sheds with only 22 on the board.
Captain James Lidgett and Tony Ura then settled the innings and when Ura’s then Ben Cox’s wickets fell, Lidgett was joined by Shantry.
The two continued to push the score along and the Roos were just 36 from victory when Lidgett was run out for 52.
The Roos were wobbling when Shantry was run out for 42 and Luke Sandy ‘did’ a hamstring, but the bowlers got them over the line.
It was almost two wins in as many days, as the Kangaroos fell just short in the T20 match against St Kilda at Junction Oval on Sunday.
St Kilda made a gettable 6-138, with Jack Shantry the best of the bowlers with two wickets.
In reply, the middle order of James Lidgett (30) and Ben Cox (41) gave the Kangaroos a chance of reaching the target. But when both fell with the score on 104, the Kangaroos’ hopes plummetted. And so it proved, Greenvale finishing 15 runs short at 7-124.
