Diggers Rest Bulla eyeing improvement despite washouts
Diggers Rest Bulla skipper Rhys Berry is confident his club can go one step further this season after a strong start to the GDCA McIntyre Shield campaign.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Diggers Rest Bulla skipper Rhys Berry is confident his club can go one step further this season after a strong start to the GDCA McIntyre Shield campaign.
The Burras sit second on the ladder after claiming victories in their opening two matches but rain has since forced in three straight washouts.
After finishing fourth, Diggers Rest Bulla came up short against eventual premier Bacchus Marsh in last season’s semi-final.
VSDCA: WASHOUTS PUT PLENTY VALLEY ON BACKFOOT
LEADER: GET YOUR GDCA CRICKET NEWS HERE
DVCA: BRILLIANT BUNDOORA REBOUNDS IN STYLE
Despite losing three games to wet weather, Berry said confidence was high at Diggers Rest Reserve.
“We were in a good position in those games, but rain put an end to that,” he said.
“Obviously that’s out of our control, but everything is going well and those two wins are going to be important with so many washouts.
“Even during that (semi-final) we were in a good position but just let it go towards the end of our first innings.
“We’ve attracted some new players to the club and we’ve improved since then, so hopefully we can go one better.”
After Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash against Gisborne was abandoned, the Burras are set to travel to third-placed Sunbury United for the first two-day game of the season.
Fresh off a Team of the Year honour in his first season with the club, Upal Fernando (150 runs at 75) is again leading the way with the bat, while Sumanjan Fernando isn’t far behind with 121 runs at 40.
“We’re looking forward to getting back into the red-ball cricket this weekend, I think we’re more suited to two-day cricket than white-ball cricket,” Berry said.
“Upal is one of the top-three batsman in the competition and Suma has started the season really well, which is good.
“I think they’re both suited to red-ball cricket, so we’re really excited by what they can produce this year.”
Elsewhere, Riddell will host Romsey, Bacchus Marsh will look for its first victory of the campaign against Woodend and St Anthony’s faces Gisborne at Arnold’s Creek.
Rain is again forecast for Saturday.