Sunbury fought back well against PEGS to give itself a good crack at another win before Christmas in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association Steve McNamara Shield.
It was all PEGS early at its home ground on Saturday after the Roar sent them in, with warm conditions.
PEGS openers both started well and looked set for some big scores, as they faced more than 200 balls between them.
The Roar was able to fight back and have PEGS at 6-132 when rain and then lightning halted play for the rest of the day.
“They started really well,” Roar coach Leo Italiano said.
“They were 1-100 at one stage. After tea the boys bowled really well and fielded really well.
“The game is delicately balanced.”
Italiano said the players came off for rain after 59 overs and once that stopped they were set to return to the field.
There was then lightning within 20 kilometres of the ground which brought play to a close early with persistent lightning meaning they couldn’t resume.
Indika Massalage and Zac Corcoran have two wickets each for the Roar so far.
PEGS will face about 11 overs on day two of the match, with Italiano saying the game was evenly placed at this stage.
“There’s still a long way to go in this game,” he said.
“They are a much better team than the ladder says. PEGS has a lot of fire power with the ball and a good unit.
“They should be a lot higher than they are.”
A win would take the Roar to 4-2 at the Christmas break along with a couple of washouts.
Italiano said they would have taken that at the start of the season, his first season in charge.
“My aim going into the season was to come back after Christmas and still be in the finals race.
“If we finish well this week and bat well we will give ourselves every chance”
“To be 4-2 would be fantastic. It’s a lot harder to get into the top four than stay in the top four.
“It’s your spot to lose.”
The Roar’s second XI’s match with PEGS is also evenly placed.
Italiano said they weren’t able to have anyone go big and post a good score as they finished with 176.
PEGS is 2-22 in reply.
“We were 1-100 ourselves and then the wickets fell in the middle order.
“We could not find support for our captain Sammy (Fisher). We had three players make 40s, but no one else made double figures.
“They bowled really well. It’s a really even game.”
Sunbury will be in action on Tuesday night in the second last round of the T20 competition against the Druids.
Both teams have one win so far, so a win would help keep their finals hopes alive.
