Victorian Sub-District: Taylors Lakes recruits impress

One Taylors Lakes opener just “turned up at training” before immediately making an impression and his partner is on the brink of exploding according to Taylors Lakes coach Peter Brasher. He speaks on his side’s hot start.

Taylors Lakes batter Jashanpreet Singh. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Taylors Lakes coach Peter Brasher is confident there is still another gear for his side to find.

The Lions currently sit third on the VSDCA South-West ladder with one game to play heading into the Christmas break and Brasher believes more improvement could be on the horizon.

Stefan Roberts (294 runs at 73.5) and Nilan Fernando (265 at 88.33) are in the top-10 batters in the competition and played key roles in the win over Yarraville.

Fernando finished unbeaten on 61 as Taylors Lakes ran out four-wicket winners.

Opener Jashanpreet Singh hit 48 in another promising innings and Brasher is hopeful of seeing him go to another level after Christmas.

“Both of our openers, Singh and Chalitha Chamoda, were playing hard wicket cricket last year and they’ve shown some really promising signs,” Brasher said.

“Singh turned up to training one night and after watching him bat, I said to him ‘I’ll give you a game here’.

“Chamoda is opening the bowling as well, he hasn’t really got going with the bat yet but when he does, he’s going to do some real damage.”

Brasher said his side had probably performed “above expectations” to this stage of the season.

“We were in a similar position last year and fell away in the back half,” he said.

“The key is going to be not getting ahead of ourselves and build on what we’ve done so far. It’s been a real team effort to this point of the season and we don’t want to drop away.

“Different guys are contributing every week which makes it a lot easier as a coach.”

In other results, Hoppers Crossing recorded a big win over Malvern led by Shijit Chandran who was out for 98 to be cruelly denied a century.

The Cats posted 7-340 in response to Malvern’s 179 on day one.

Port Melbourne and Ormond played out arguably the game of the round as the former held on by 12 runs.

Ryan McDonald was pivotal in the bowling effort taking 4-36 as Nick Sharpin took 3-59.

Spotswood continued its good form with a four-wicket win over Elsternwick as Lachlan McKenna climbed to the top of the run scorer’s charts with an unbeaten 101 off 154.

Brighton was able to maintain its perfect record after overcoming Williamstown by three wickets on the back of a half-century to opener Charlie Dowling.

Caulfield proved to be too good for Moorabbin, winning by 209 runs after Jeremy Corby led the way with three wickets.

Oakleigh strengthened its place in the top-six with a comprehensive win over Altona as Ned Bailey and Sam Jones both hit half-centuries before the visitors were sent in to bat again, reaching 3-66.

Werribee put Melton to sword as debutant Jackson Hopper finished with figures of 4-46 to lead the way for the Tigers.

DAY ONE REVIEW

A recruit who walked in off the street has peeled off a glittering maiden century for Caulfield.

Madhur Ghai joined the Fielders in pre-season training and club officials knew they had a beauty straight away.

On Saturday, the 22-year-old realised his potential when he made 103 not out to help Caulfield to a hefty 6-316 against Moorabbin at Caulfield Park in the Victorian Sub-District Association south-west Round 7 clash.

Caulfield’s big day was capped off by a blistering late cameo by 18-year-old debutant Ari Fell, who came in at No. 8 and cracked 50 not out off 46 balls (2 fours, 3 sixes).

Ghai and Fell shared an unconquered 79-run stand.

Josh Rymell hit another half-century for Caulfield. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Coming to the crease at 3-62, Ghai unleashed a series of crisp drives, hitting 7 boundaries, including an all-run four, during his 164-ball stay.

He is a former Balwyn Saints all-rounder who started the season in Caulfield’s seconds.

“He’s just a young kid who works at a school with (former Caulfield player) Aaron Fetter,’’ Caulfield playing-coach Lachlan Graf said.

“He was looking for somewhere to play. ‘Fet’ got him down to pre season training and from the first training you could tell he could bat.’'

Graf said Ghai was an unknown at the start of the season but he’s now an exciting prospect.

“We didn’t really know what he’d be like,’’ he said.

“We put him in the twos and our chairman of selectors Simmo (John Simmons) watched him in his first game in the twos and said, ‘sh.., I think we’ve found someone here who can really bat. And he’s handy with the ball as well and he’s really good in the field. He just sort of fell in our lap and it’s been a really good pick up.’’

Fell is a raw talent with huge upside.

“He’s got an eye like a dead fish,’’ Graf said.

“He keeps it pretty simple, he watches the ball and hits the ball. And he makes runs. He’s probably still learning how to bat but he just has an appetite for runs, knows how to score.’’

Ghai and Jeremy Corby (44) shared a 104-run fifth wicket partnership as the Fielders got rolling after a shaky start. Class act Josh Rymell (59) scored his second straight half-century.

Tim O'Brien scored a quality century for Werribee. Picture: Andy Brownbill

It was a captain’s knock to savour for Werribee’s Tim O’Brien.

The Tigers No. 3 walked to the crease at 1-19 and departed with his side rolling at 3-230 after he clattered 128 against Melton.

He hit 13 fours and two sixes in his 193-ball innings.

O’Brien shared a 202-run partnership with opener Matthew Burton who solidly accumulated 74.

The Tigers have set Melton 285.

Brighton seamer Glen Parker went further ahead on top of the wickets chart with another clinical display against Williamstown. His haul of 4-54 off 18.4 overs took him to 20 wickets for the season at 9. Cassidy combined with Will Sist (3-37) and Lucky Malik (2-15) to dismiss Williamstown for 192. Willy No. 3 Matthew Dervan held the innings together, putting away 9 fours on his way to 72. In reply, ladder-leading Brighton was 0-11.

Tom Collins made 41 as Elsternwick’s middle order rallied after a tough start against Spotswood. From 3-22, Elsty recovered to post 196, with Collins, Cameron Christiansen (38), Zach Grundmann (35) and Roshan Livera (35) showing the way. Seven Spotswood bowlers took a wicket, with Dan Schuppan (3-39) doing the early damage and Sam Hope (2-20) providing firepower. Facing four overs before stumps, Spotswood lost Ross Horkings, lbw to Livera, to be 1-18.

Port Melbourne opener Jake Rothnie scored his second consecutive half-century to help Port to 220 against Ormond. Rothnie elegantly put away 10 fours and 1 six during his 110-ball 81. When he was dismissed Port Melbourne was 5-133.

Malvern batter Chris McCormick. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Shijit Chandran Poovathingal has put Hoppers Crossing in a strong position over Malvern with a striking six-wicket haul.

The right-arm spinner reduced the Roosters from 4-107 to all out for 179 with 6-52.

Malvern skipper Tom Rickarby (52) had put his side back into the game after it was 4-27 but was the first of Poovathingal’s victims.

Poovathingal also removed the dangerous Chris McCormick who had struck a run-a-ball 60.

A successful chase would keep Hoppers in the logjam of teams on the same amount of wins between third and eighth.

Yarraville has set Taylors Lakes a competitive score, courtesy of some lower-order runs from No. 8 Will Sheffield.

Sheffield went in at 6-129 and was able to drag Yarraville to 218 with a quick-fire 43.

He combined nicely with Senad Jahic, who struck 55 from 150 balls.

Oakleigh, meanwhile, will be looking for quick runs on the morning of day two to push for an outright victory over Altona.

The Oaks — led by 4-33 from Alex Jones — ripped through the visitors for 114 and were 0-59 overnight.

Oaks opener Ned Bailey was in a hurry before the close of play, rushing to 46 not out from only 40 balls.

The Oaks still trail Altona by 55 runs when play resumes on Saturday but will be pushing for maximum points.