East Sunbury is hoping its best is still ahead of it in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association Johnstone Shield.
It hasn’t been the first part of the season that the Thunder had been after with just one win from its first six matches. There has also been two washouts in that.
Thunder captain-coach Justin Nelson knows that they can only get better and hopes it turns around soon.
“We have been very inconsistent,” he said.
“We’ve made 250 one week and been out for 60 the next; it can be frustrating but we’re staying positive and training hard.
“We’ve definitely been inconsistent but we’re hoping with a settled side after Christmas we can change that.
“It’s hard to play consistent cricket when you have four-five blokes out every week.”
Nelson said they were focused on trying to win their two matches before the Christmas break to keep their season alive.
“We know it’s curtains for our season if we lose both these matches.”
The Thunder has a challenge on its hands against Kilmore after day one of their match.
While some matches didn’t get on due to the weather, the two teams were able to get in a full day’s play.
Kilmore made 190, bowled out with 13 balls remaining.
Nelson was the pick of the bowlers with 7-76.
The skipper said they would have liked to have kept them to a bit lower score.
“We probably let them get away with 40-50 extra runs but that’s cricket,” he said.
“If we can’t chase 190 in 80 overs we probably don’t deserve to play finals.”
While it’s been tough going for the first XI, Nelson said things were going well across the rest of the club.
It’s Nelson’s first season as coach.
“As a whole, the club is doing really well,” he said.
“The committee has worked tirelessly to get our women’s program up and running and we’ve also got our Woolworths Blasters program up and running again as well as two junior teams, so we’re really happy with where the club is at.”
In other Johnstone Shield matches, Diggers Rest Bulla is in control of its match against Harkness.
Harkness was bowled out for just 96 with Travis Barratt taking 6-30.
The Burras will resume at 1-23.
Lancefield has already conceded first inning points against Eastern Hill.
The Tigers were bowled out for just 78 with Mitch Mclean playing a lone hand with 46.
No other batter reached double figures.
Eastern Hill finished the day at 3-104.
Sunbury Kangaroos and Eynesbury’s match will be a one-dayer after day one was washed out.
