VSDCA: Hoppers Crossing stun Endeavour Hills by eight wickets

Hoppers Crossing learnt from its “mistakes” to record an upset win over Endeavour Hills with the “heart” of the club firing.

VSDCA Cricket: Hoppers Crossing v Williamstown: Sanka Abeyruwan of Hoppers Crossing bowling on Saturday, March 6, 2021 in Hoppers Crossing, Australia

Learning along the way is proving pivotal in Hoppers Crossing’s pursuit of finals cricket this season.

After “disappointing” losses to Donvale and Mt Waverley, the Cats have now won their last two matches to remain in touch with the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association east-west conference’s top-six.

Saturday’s eight-wicket win over the previously undefeated Endeavour Hills was the club’s biggest under new captain-coach Simon Lambert.

The former St Albans star said key lessons from those defeats earlier in the season had played a key role in his side’s win.

“We learnt from our mistakes and that’s important to see as a coach,” Lambert said.

“As we’ve spoken about before, this is a very different looking team to last season so we’ve been trying to work out our best combinations for different scenarios in games.

“Now we’re starting to see the benefits of those. It’s really good for us to get a win against quality opposition.

“It’s a good win but we need to keep building as a team.”

Brett Smith was among the runs for Hoppers Crossing. Picture: Steve Tanner

After winning the toss and sending the visitors into bat, Hoppers Crossing had Endeavour Hills out for 176 with Lambert, Henro Dias and Sanka Abeyruwan all taking two wickets.

Dias was the most economical conceding just 13 runs but was also in the thick of the action through the visitors’ innings.

He took a “crucial” catch to remove Thilakarathna M Dilshan for just six while also collecting a run out.

“He’s (Dias) a good young cricketer who is very good for our group,” Lambert said.

“He’s the heart of our side. Henro is a very talented all-rounder but he hasn’t probably had the opportunity to show off his skills with the bat just yet as much as he would have liked.

“He’s bowled some crucial overs for us this season, I’m really enjoying watch him develop.”

Sanka Abeyruwan had a strong impact with the ball for Hoppers Crossing.

Lambert again played a leading role with the bat for his side scoring an unbeaten 90 from 124 balls to guide Hoppers to a comfortable victory.

He heaped praise on other members of the top four — Brett Smith, Sanka Abeyruwan and Shijit Chandran — with all of the quartet averaging above 30 inside the first six games.

“Our top four is well really well, I’d regard it as one of the best in the competition,” he said.

“If one of us is able to make a good score, we’re pretty confident will be in a good position to win most games.

“The batting has been good so far, our ability to chase down totals has been pretty impressive.”