VSDCA: Hoppers Crossing get off the mark with win over Strathmore

Hoppers Crossing has finally got off the mark with its first win of the Subbies season and it all came down to one big change.

All it took was a change of fortune for Hoppers Crossing to break through for its first win of the season according to captain-coach Simon Lambert.

The Cats broke their 2023-24 duck courtesy of a nine-wicket thumping of Strathmore on Saturday afternoon after rolling the home side for just 80 after they won the toss and elected to bat.

Despite having dropped the opening three games, Lambert said his bowlers had continue to deliver especially with the new ball.

And that’s where they were able to do much of the damage against the Mores, having the home side in major trouble at 5-33.

Abbas Faiyaz and Kaushik Jagannathan claimed three wickets apiece before Fawad Ahmed cleaned up the tail with two scalps.

“Luck was on our side this week,” Lambert said.

“In the past few weeks, we’ve had a lot of plays and misses but this week we had a few hit catch the edge. I don’t think we’ve bowled badly in the first three games, it’s just been a case of not getting the wickets.

“Our new ball bowling has been one of our strengths and I’d like for that to continue.”

The small total allowed Shijit Chandran (41 runs off 30 balls) and Lambert (37 not out off 41) to spend valuable time at the crease with the Cats have struggled with the bat to start the season.

“With the bat we’ve been below where we need to be,” Lambert said.

“It’s just a confidence thing for us at the moment. We know we’ve got a good enough line-up to put some good scores on the board.

“If you want to be successful, you need at least three guys in good form and we haven’t had that at the moment.”