East Sunbury is hoping Saturday was a turning point in its Gisborne and District Cricket Association B-grade campaign.
Two losses to start the season coincided with the coach of last year’s grand finalist, Mark Hourigan, being overseas.
Hourigan, who returned for the club’s first two-day game, against Macedon, said he hoped things would start turning around.
“I’ve been away, but I had a chat to them yesterday about what they need to be doing,” he said.
“I had done the preseason with them but there’s still players getting settled. We need to get some consistency.”
The chat must have worked as the Thunder bowled Macedon out for 112.
“We should have bowled them out for 80,” Hourigan said. “There were a lot of chances that we let go … dropped catches, missed stumpings and run outs. It was a poor effort in the field. It’s a goal now to improve in those areas.”
Chris Watson was best of the bowlers, taking 6-45 off his six overs.
For more pictures and photo sales, click here.
The Thunder will resume at 0-9 on day two.
“The second half of the challenge is batting, Hourigan said. “It looks like Liam Sherlock has got his rhythm back. He only faced one over and he hit eight runs.”
After losing some players in the off-season, the Thunder has continued to promote youth into the senior team.
“Jack Dillon, who’s just 15, opened the bowling and has been a rep cricketer through the younger grades,” Hourigan said.
“Because of his age he has bowling restrictions that limit how much we can bowl him.
“Brady Penticoss has stepped up and so has Liam Williams; they’re 16 to 17 years old.”
Hourigan said the key on two day of the clash would be to bat the day out.
“You are never over-confident with chasing down the total,” he said.
“We will set little goals throughout the day. Our first goal was not to lose a wicket before stumps on day one.
“The main target is set at batting out the day to help set our season up.
“You need to be able to bat through an innings, which we were able to do last year.”
Rupertswood and Lancefield are in good positions after day one of their clashes against Wallan and Ashfield.
Rupertswood made it to 9-254 from its 80 overs.
After starting well, Rupertswood lost 5-23 in the middle of the innings to slump to 6-118.
The lower order recovered to post a tough total for Wallan to chase down.
Lancefield captain-coach Luke Barker made 94 in his side’s total of 7-232.
In the other match, St Anthonys is 2-45 chasing Bacchus Marsh’s 133.
