Harper Sercombe
Sunbury had a challenging start to its Victorian Turf Cricket Association Steve McNamara Shield two-day clash over the weekend, having already conceded first innings points.
On Saturday, the Roar took on the Altona Roosters at Langshaw Reserve to kick off round four.
After winning the toss and batting, things started to go downhill for United, losing wickets in a hurry, being bowled all out for 90.
The Roar’s top four were all knocked over for under a dozen runs, with Liam Chant top scoring for his team with 34.
Roar captain-coach Kevin Barker said they should have been more prepared for the conditions.
“It was a tricky wicket, a bit slower and lower than we were kind of expecting, but that’s what happens at this time of the year so we should have been a little bit more prepared for that,” he said.
“We just couldn’t stem the flow, we just lost wickets in clumps early and then we couldn’t get a little partnership together at the top of the order and that really hurt us.”
As the Roar was dismissed within just 38 overs, the Roosters were able to chase the runs on Saturday to secure first innings points.
The Roosters will resume batting at 4-104 on Saturday.
Zac Corcoran took two of the four wickets for the Roar.
Both sides will return to Langshaw Reserve on Saturday, with the Roosters aiming for an outright win and the Roar trying to get something out of the game.
“They are still batting so they can go for as long as they want,” Barker said.
“Our goal is to try and get them out as cheaply as we can and if they send us back in to bat we have to make a better showing than what we did.”
While it has been a tricky start to the season for the Roar as they remain without a win, Barker said his views and expectations on the summer of cricket haven’t changed.
It’s the side’s first season in division 2, having finished runners-up in division 3 last season.
“We’re a good side, we’re just not showing that at the moment,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of really good team players and that I know can turn it around.
“So the goal is to just get better, hopefully we can put a few wins together and move on from there.”
Barker said there is one aspect of the teams’ game that needs to be improved for the wins to start coming. It’s the same area that has plagued the team the past few years.
“It’s our batting, we’ve got a lot of experienced batsmen,” he said.
“They just aren’t showing their worth at the moment, myself included.
“So we just need to turn that around and once we do I’m confident that we will be able to string a few wins together.”
