Craigieburn’s season has flipped dramatically in the past eight days

Craigieburn is celebrating three straight wins and Nathan Pappin’s drought-breaking century, while Zac Orr is the No.1 bowler in the competition.

Craigieburn’s Nathan Pappin. Picture: Andy Brownbill

After a winless first fortnight, Craigieburn’s season has flipped dramatically in the space of eight days.

The Eagles have now won three games on the trot after claiming both legs of the weekend’s VTCA double-header, beating Sunshine United by 67 runs on Saturday and Westmeadows by 27 runs on Sunday.

Nathan Pappin’s drought-breaking century inspired the win over arch-rival Westmeadows.

The opening bat’s 121 was his first ton since 2007-08 – when Craigieburn was still in the NWMCA – and came off just 133 balls with 14 boundaries and a pair of sixes.

Craigieburn coach Chris Laffan was rapt for the Eagles stalwart and assistant coach.

Zac Orr celebrates a wicket. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“His knock (on Sunday) was phenomenal, was super attacking, and put us in a winning position early on,” Laffan said.

“Being one-dayers we don’t expect to see too many big hundreds but to see one like that was great viewing for everyone at the ground.

“He had a day out, short square and quick along the ground, it suited him down to the ground.

“He played juniors at the club and departed for a couple of seasons for coaching experience and take on different roles at different clubs.

“We’ve been lucky to cash in on the hard work he’s done away from Craigieburn.”

At 2-6, Craigieburn were in all sorts of trouble before a 135-run partnership between Pappin and Sam Laffan (45).

It’s the third game in a row the Eagles have posted 200 runs or more.

“Two guys that hadn’t been in the runs yet were able to get some runs under their belts on Saturday; Sam Karamoshou and Adam Davies both got half centuries,” Laffan said.

Adam Davies in action for Craigieburn. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“To spread the load across three big scoring games is so good for the group’s confidence, to be able to have different guys produce is great for the club going forward.

“We didn’t want the Sunday to be a tough day and to lose the momentum and it’s been a weekend were we’ve been able to climb the ladder significantly.”

Defending 7-208, Zac Orr gave Craigieburn the perfect start, trapping Tarek Moughanie lbw for a golden duck, first ball of the innings.

Chinthaka Jayasinghe threatened to steal the game, scoring 72, before falling to Anthony Peterson, who claimed match-best figures of 3-33.

Orr (2-27), Josh Eaton (2-29) and Dan English (2-40) all picked up a brace.

Combined with 2-24 in the win over Sunshine United, Orr now has 12 scalps on the season, No.1 in Senior Division.

Spinner Waduwidanalage Rangika sits second with 11 wickets after taking 4-25 against the reigning premier on Saturday and 1-31 on Sunday.

“It’s fantastic for Zac, he’s come on in leaps and bounds the last couple of seasons,” Laffan said.

“He’s got 12 already, so to be up there in the leading wicket-takers is going to give him a lot of confidence.

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“Shohan as well, he played a different role (on Sunday) in the middle overs to try and tie down CJ (Jayasinghe), it was a super tough time to bowl, and obviously picking up four wickets on Saturday.”

Davies top-scored on in Saturday’s win with 87, while Karamoshou posted 55, as Craigieburn posted 8-224.

Rangika (4-25) then ripped through United’s line-up with Orr (2-24), English (2-25) and Michael Bury (2-33), the Tigers all out for 157.

Craigieburn will round out 2021 by hosting Yarraville Club at Aitken Reserve on Saturday, while Westmeadows will look to bounce back at home against Sunshine United.

CRAIGIEBURN CLAIMS HISTORIC SENIOR DIVISION WIN

“It was a little bit of a relief, to be honest.”

Craigieburn broke its duck and claimed a maiden VTCA Senior Division victory on Saturday, beating Doutta Stars by 71 runs.

In their first season in the top flight, the Eagles have shown improvement in each of their opening three matches and proved too strong for last year’s grand finalist at Aitken Reserve.

Dan English was the hero with the bat, walking to the crease at 3-60, he anchored the Craigieburn innings with a classy 82 not out.

Chasing 6-209, Waduwidanalage Rangika (4-16) and Zac Orr (3-28) then sealed the win as the Stars lost 8-51 to be dismissed for 138.

Zac Orr bowling for Craigieburn. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“We’re rapt to get the monkey off the back,” Craigieburn coach Chris Laffan said.

“The boys have been working really hard over the last couple of weeks, we were in both the first two games.

“We were tested with the bat and the ball (on Saturday) and to have it pay off is a really good sign for the club and gives us a lot of confidence going forward.

“We felt we were at the standard but as you look down the barrel at 0-2 the pressure starts to mount a little bit and to be able to respond when we were challenged is a massive achievement.”

Asked to bat after losing the toss, Craigieburn made a strong start, Rangika (33) and Nathan Pappin (21) reaching 0-56 before Pappin fell, triggering a 4-16 collapse.

However, English was able to stabilise the innings and together with skipper Mick Bury (18) and Josh Eaton (31) ensured the home team set a defendable total.

Yet when Doutta Stars openers Pat Willach and Brendan Ward walked out it looked as though no total was safe.

The pair launched out of the blocks, taking 14 runs off English’s first over and reaching 0-37 after just three overs.

Adam Davies in action for Craigieburn. Picture: Andy Brownbill

English would ultimately have the last laugh, catching both Ward (19) off the bowling of Orr and Willach (21) off Bury, in the deep.

The Stars were still well placed at 2-87 before Orr removed Tom Mules (24), Harrison Barnes-Quail (18) and Sujay Batchu (5) in quick succession.

“We blasted away then lost four quick wickets but Dan knuckled down with Mick and Josh at the end and he was able to play his shots in the last 10 overs,” Laffan said.

“We saw some great power hitting, particularly with a strong southerly at DS Aitken.

“The big jump is being able to knuckle down and pound out those big scores rather than the super attacking style at the levels below.

“We’ve been slowly climbing and looking at the scores that’s what you need to win games of cricket in Senior Division.

“They were 37 off the first three, they’d seen the way Dan batted and really targeted hitting with the breeze.

“All credit to Mick Bury, he persisted with some of the fielding changes that we’ve put in place this season and we took two catches out in the deep.

“To be challenged early on with some quality hitting but then get back to what we’ve been working on is a massive credit to our bowlers and is really exciting moving forward.”

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With the first win under the belt, Laffan hopes the team can now kick on.

The VTCA will hold a Saturday-Sunday double-header on December 11-12 to make up for the washed out Round 1.

Craigieburn travel to Selwyn Park to face reigning premier Sunshine United on Saturday before backing up against Westmeadows at Willowbrook Reserve.

In other Senior Division results, Yarraville Club (137) edged Druids (81), Aberfeldie (4-161) continued its strong start against Sunshine United (4-160), St Albans (4-252) thrashed Westmeadows (148) and Haig Fawkner (3-189) ended Keilor (5-187) perfect start.