VSDCA 2018-19: Oakleigh posts 9-254 in Sub-District Cricket clash against Brighton

Oakleigh underlined its batting depth after toughing it out against Brighton on day one of the VSDCA clash.

Brendan McGuinness tight in defence. Picture: James Ross/AAP

The deck had “a bit in it” and it was tough going early but Oakleigh may have its nose in front in the Round 10 VSDCA clash against Brighton after day one.

In conditions conducive to bowling, the Oaks made their way to 9-254 after being sent in on a damp Brighton Beach Oval track.

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James Campbell’s 66 was the backbone of Oakleigh’s total after Andrew Splatt and captain Brendan McGuinness (19) did the hard yards early.

Splatt added 4 off 57 balls and McGuinness 19 from 76, occupying the crease for close to an hour for a gritty 15-run second-wicket partnership.

But consecutive strikes from Brighton quick Jack Bransgrove had Oakleigh 3-29, only for Campbell to hold the middle-order together.

Shane Townsend clips one into the leg-side. Picture: James Ross/AAP

The Englishman hit 9 fours and a six in his 84-ball stay, with John O’Keefe (21) and Jeremy Devlin (34) also making vital contributions.

The lower-order pair of Shane Townsend (45 not out) and Miles Fabris (29) added a crucial 68 runs for the ninth wicket to set up a defendable total.

McGuinness said he was pleased with his side’s application on a difficult wicket.

“To come away with 250 on the board is a fantastic result. If you had given that to me at the start of the day I would have taken it, especially after being put in to bat,” McGuinness said.

“The wicket was very soft and wet and if we had have won the toss we would have bowled first, too. To be defending 250 is a great result.”

McGuinness said the total underlined the depth in his side’s batting group this season.

“We’re not a team of one or two rockstars and the rest make up numbers, the guys down the bottom can certainly do a job for us,” he said.

“The guys that have been batting at 7, 8, 9 haven’t had enough opportunities to go out there and bat for long periods of time.

“We’ve had a couple of guys get starts and get out and some other guys just haven’t had a chance to bat.

“We don’t have a 600-plus-run player in our side, we’ve got what we like to think is 11 contributors.”

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