It’s still too early in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association season to get a good gauge on Sunbury’s season.
After the first round of the VTCA season was rained out, the Roar opened its division 2 campaign against the Greenvale Kangaroos in a two day clash.
In that match the Roar elected to bowl and was set to chase 182 on the second day.
However, its batters were “unable to fire,” losing by 41 runs.
In round three, the signs are looking more promising for the Roar, this time being sent in to bat on a green wicket against West Newport.
The Roar’s batting looked a bit more concrete this time around in difficult conditions. Opening batsman Indika Massalage backed up his 44 against the Kangaroos with a 37. While Rasika Batepola top scored with 38, helping their team put up a target to bowl at.
“To scrape to 165 was a really good effort I think,” Roar captain-coach Kevin Barker said.
“Ras [Batepola] and Indika [Massalage] batted well with some help with Zac Corcoran (22) down low.
“And it was a really good effort from young Sandil [Wijesooriya] , sticking in for 100 balls, which is pretty cool from a 16 year old, in only his second game.
“We probably would have liked another one or two if I’m being honest, but the score hasn’t gotten away from us yet.”
The Lions are 1-18 chasing another 144 for victory, however, the match was finished after deadline.
“We just need to bowl well,” Barker said before the second day.
“Bowl good lines, good length and take our catches if they come, be positive, work as a ground and hopefully we can get the points.”
While it could be justified for Barker to have hoped the wicket held its liveliness in between weeks, he said he was hoping Clarke Oval became better for batting, to help his side moving forward in the season.
“We just want the wicket to get better,” he said.
“We’re going to keep working on it and hopefully it’s a good deck.
“But it doesn’t matter what kind of wicket you’re playing on, you need to bowl well to get wickets, bowl well, catch well, so that’s what we’ll plan to do.”
At the beginning of the season, the Roar welcomed a host of players such as Batepola, Massalage and Gayan Welikalage came from Diggers Rest, Ashan Ranaweera was from Sunbury United, while Liam Chant and Chris Pilkington came in off the street.
Barker said all of these players have made an impact in the short time they have been at the club.
“They’ve been incredible,” he said.
“It’s just been an injection of positivity with all the new guys.
“The vibe of the club at the moment is incredible.
“The twos are in a really good position, the fourths are undefeated and the thirds are one and one.
“I’m talking from a personal standpoint but I hope that the majority of the playing group feel the same.
“It’s just a really good environment to be in at the moment.”
