Angelo Emmanuel, Roshon Primus score centuries, put Deer Park in box seat

Deer Park piled on the runs as Angelo Emmanuel and Roshon Primus scored centuries with the Lions coach saying karma had smiled on his club.

Deer Park coach Mick Andriadis says the karma train arrived on Saturday as his team piled on the runs against St Albans.

Angelo Emmanuel and Roshon Primus each scored centuries at Kings Park as the Lions scored 367 in the first day of the first two-dayer of the VTCA Senior Division season.

Emmanuel and Primus both scored 120, putting on a potentially match-defining 189-run partnership.

After a controversial finish to the clubs’ Round 1 match, which St Albans won by one-run after a Mankad run-out on the final ball of the match, Andriadis said fate had smiled on his team this time.

“The team has lifted … we’re playing some good cricket, we’ve won our last three and hopefully we can make it four on Saturday,” he said.

Angelo Emmanuel in action for Deer Park. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“We didn’t need any extra motivation but I suppose if you believe in karma.

“The karma train came, we won the toss and we batted and put up our highest score for a long time. I don’t think it’s a coincidence.”

After falling to 2-34, Emmanuel and James Leach (43) steadied the ship with a 78-run third-wicket stand.

Emmanuel and Primus then put Deer Park in the box seat, hitting 11 boundaries a piece, while Primus upped the run-rate with six sixes.

Despite having runs on the board, Andriadis wasn’t getting ahead of himself and said it would still require a good bowling performance to take the points.

“Primus started steady without setting the world on fire but then his runs after 50, 50 to 120, was phenomenal,” he said.

“I’m not sure how many balls he faced but I’d guess it was a lot better than a run a ball.

“Ange was the rock, he was the foundation, he played it safe and didn’t give a chance, it was great to watch.

“The old cliche, we’ll look to get 10 wickets first.

“St Albans are a good batting side in their old right so we don’t want to get too carried away.

“It all depends on the conditions too, it might be another 30 degree day, it could be a sticky wicket or we could have rain.”

Lihan Dulshan was the pick of St Albans’ bowlers, claiming 4-84 from 14.4 overs, while Shanaka Silva finished with 3-52.

The Saints will begin their chase on Saturday as they look to keep in touch with the top-four.

Elsewhere in Senior Division, Malith Cooray scored his maiden century for Keilor as the Blues racked up a massive 8-324.

Chetan Arjun added an impressive 71, while Alfie Miles scored 46.

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At DS Aitken Reserve, Craigieburn was dismissed 184, thanks largely to Sam Laffan’s 70, and Sunshine United reached 0-22 before stumps.

Aberfeldie was all out 177 in a grand final rematch against Haig Fawkner at Charles Mutton Reserve as Khalid Hassan took 5-52.

Cellar-dweller Westmeadows in eyeing a big upset against Yarraville Club.

The Warriors were dismissed for 125 in the first innings but hit back strongly before stumps to have Clubbers 3-55 at stumps at Hansen Reserve.