VSDCA 2018-19: St Bernards Chris Spinella eyeing consecutive hundreds

CHRIS Spinella will be eyeing successive hundreds to open the VSDCA season after spearheading St Bernard’s 4-261 against Coburg on Saturday.

Chris Spinella watches the ball onto the bat with intense focus.

CHRIS Spinella will be eyeing successive hundreds to open the VSDCA season after spearheading St Bernard’s 4-261 against Coburg on Saturday.

The No.3 batsman went to stumps at 87 not out on a rain-affected day and will have 12.3 overs left to complete his second triple-figure score of the North-East group campaign.

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The right-hander opened the season with a knock of 101 against Box Hill and displayed his class to put the Snowdogs in a commanding position after they had been 4-114.

Spinella shared an unconquered 147-run stand with Tristan Kassis (73 not out), taking the game away from the Burgers at St Bernard’s College.

“It really sets his season up for a really big one,” coach Nigel Freebairn said of Spinella.

“He’s got an appetite for scores.”

Chris Spinella is 13 runs away from starting the VSDCA season with consecutive hundreds.

Freebairn praised Spinella’s application, crediting his “ability to accumulate” and his “versatility” as the catalysts for his red-hot start to 2018-19.

The top-order batsman was the Snowdogs’ leading run scorer last season, compiling 461 runs at 35 to rank eighth in the North-West group.

Despite his flying start, he trails Bayswater’s Ben Osborne by 57 runs after the Waters star plundered 146 not out against Ivanhoe on Saturday.

Tim Grant (55) took the attack to Coburg in the opening session and St Bernard’s was cruising at 1-93 with the opener and Spinella at the crease.

Darren Scott (1-37) removed Grant before a double strike from Burgers skipper Zac Thorne (2-69) had the fixture in the balance.

Chris Spinella’s full array of stroke play was on display on Saturday.

That was when Spinella, who Freebairn said was in “enviable” form, steered the recovery with Kassis a willing ally.

After a golden duck in Round 1, Kassis’ first nine scoring shots were boundaries as he shrugged off any nerves in style.

“His confidence certainly took a knock,” Freebairn said.

“But his first nine scoring shots were fours.”

The Snowdogs are targeting their maiden VSDCA finals appearance and started the season with a five-wicket triumph over Box Hill.

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