DVCA 2018-19: Contender Epping beats Plenty in Barclay Shield

Epping underlined its status as a genuine contender in DVCA Barclay Shield as it swept aside Plenty, with its opening bowlers leading the way

Tom Emmins goes on the attack for Epping. Picture: Hamish Blair

Epping underlined its status as a genuine contender in DVCA Barclay Shield as it swept aside Plenty by 146 runs in a crushing victory on Saturday.

Defending 238, the Pingers delivered another outstanding performance with the ball, led by opening bowlers Marcus Murphy (3-23) and Robert Tinsley (2-12).

John Lever (2-11), Todd Hughes (1-12) and Billy McKeown (1-28) also shone as the Power crumbled to be all out for 92 in 46.3 overs.

“We executed our plans again, which was great,” Epping captain Andrew Bennett said.

“The target at the start of the year was about understanding our roles and knowing what that is in the team. We batted another 80 overs and our bowlers are getting used to bowling on these flatter wickets.”

Tinsley has taken the second-most wickets in the competition with 21 at 13.48 apiece, while Murphy has 13 to his name at 16.38.

Bennett said the pair, who have returned after a season away, “complement each other really nicely”.

After an eighth-place finish last summer, Epping is sitting pretty in second position with three rounds remaining in the home-and-away season.

“What the guys are starting to realise is that when we play our best cricket, we can challenge anyone. I think that’s the most important thing,” Bennett said.

“A lot of our group are coming into that mid-late 20s and have played a lot of A-grade cricket. Now they understand they can mix it and understand what’s required to finish a game.”

Runaway ladder-leader Diamond Creek (45 points) has established itself as the team to beat, with Epping (33), Bundoora (30) and Rosanna (27) making up the top four. Macleod and Lower Plenty occupy fifth and sixth spots, also on 27 points.

“They (Diamond Creek) have definitely set the benchmark,” Bennett said.

“I don’t think they’ve had a bad day’s cricket as of yet.

“We got washed out against them (in Round 6), so we only got to see them bat. We didn’t really get a chance to face them with the ball.

“Apart from them … it’s a fairly even competition, which is really exciting because the last two years it’s been the same three and then you’re sort of raffling the last spot (in the top four).”

Third-ranked Bundoora (135) went down by one wicket to Lower Eltham (9-137).