VSDCA 2019-20: Oakleigh makes unbeaten start to Sub-District Cricket season
A hamstring injury to Oakleigh captain Brendan McGuinness was the sour point of an otherwise successful weekend for the VSDCA powerhouse, which has made an unbeaten start to the Sub-District Cricket season.
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A hobbling Brendan McGuinness batted through injury on Sunday to continue Oakleigh’s faultless start to the VSDCA season.
McGuinness, 35, tweaked a hamstring on the cusp of the drinks break against Preston at Warrawee Park and continued with the assistance of a runner to top score for a third time in four games this season.
McGuinness’ knock of 59 not out gave Oakleigh a six-wicket win, making it two from two over the weekend after a 47-run win over Brunswick on Saturday.
McGuinness also has scores of 40 and 102 not out in 2019-20.
Oakleigh cruised past Preston’s total of 9-108 in the 42nd over.
McGuinness joked he would have to deliver a “stand and deliver” approach in one-day fixtures rather than setting off for quick singles.
“It’s old age kicking in more than anything,” McGuinness quipped.
“I’ll just have to manage myself more than anything.”
Not for the first time this season, the new-ball combination of Adam Jones and Mick Splatt gave Oakleigh a dream start.
Preston lost 5-7 and crashed to 6-26 as Jones and Splatt ran through the top order.
The pair have combined for 21 wickets this year to be two of the competition’s leading wicket-takers.
“There’s no better new-ball attack in the competition than those two when they’re up and about,” McGuinness said.
“The way they dismantle attacks is just incredible and a credit to them.
“They’ve been up there for a long, long time and have been considered some of the better bowlers.
“They’re not necessarily express pace and, if anything, AJ (Jones) has probably taken a few km/h off.
“It’s his line and length, discipline and ability to make the ball talk and Mick is one of the best bowlers in the comp. There’s no other way to explain it.
“To have those two with the new ball in their hand and creating opportunities early on, it just gets us off on the right foot every game. It’s been our strength for a long time our bowling.”
Oakleigh farewelled James Campbell, Shane Townsend and Graeme Vimpani from last season’s premiership team but McGuinness praised the Oaks’ ability to introduce new players.
Young all-rounder Connor Byrne has been quick to grab his opportunity in the middle order, hitting 68 not out against Brunswick in his first game.
Satvik Verma and James Been have also been introduced into the First XI.
“To have those three (Campbell, Townsend and Vimpani) come out of the side has been a pretty big hole to fill, particularly because they’re batsmen and batsmen are at a premium in this competition,” McGuinness said.
“It just presented an opportunity to bring some young guys up that have done some pretty good work in the seconds.
“To have them coming through is really pleasing.”
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The back-to-back wins lifted Oakleigh to a 4-0 record to be the only undefeated team in the competition.
“We’ve played some pretty tough opposition that have always been there or thereabouts come the end of the season,” he said.
“To be 4-0 at this point, couldn’t be happier.”