East give lions kick up the 'bat' side

DARLEY’s talent-laden batting line-up has only a few days to find their groove as a match up with unbeaten Wendouree looms on Saturday.

The concern comes on the back of a convincing round five loss at home against East Ballarat at the weekend.

Only opener Rocky Hoey (101) has recorded over 100 runs and averages over 25 for the season. No Lions batsman has passed 50 in the opening five rounds leaving Dilon Chandima’s modest 38 in week one as the highest individual score to date.

Lions coach Nathan Yates was forthright addressing the elephant in the room amid post match discussions.

“Batting was poor again….this is meant to be our strength but is letting us down so far this season,” he said.

“It has been put on the top order to improve and give the bowlers some target to bowl at.”

The Lions were bowled out for a fourth time in as many games as the hosts struggled to 145 (season low) after Captain Benny Longhurst won the toss looking to take advantage of the perfect conditions.

Openers Rockey Hoey (25) and Lachie Herring put on a handy 30 for the first wicket but thereafter it was an ongoing battle to regain any real momentum as wickets fell with untimely regularity.

A 32 run fifth wicket partnership between Herring (25) and Yates was the only combination to usurp the opening stanza before Herring departed with the score vulnerable, reading 5/95.

With the top five batsmen all in the sheds, it was always going to be tough to manufacture a defendable score against finals contenders East Ballarat.

As many have already this season Yates (29), Bradley Barnes (13) and capable number 10, Madushanka Ekanayake (19) all made starts but couldn’t go with it.

In response with the ball, the Lions made the perfect start as Ekanayake (4/76) broke through with the first ball of the innings. Credit to East Ballarat who dug their heels in with some responsible batting to aid the recovery.

While the Lions looked an outside chance when Sajith Dissanayake (3/30) held a caught and bowled opportunity to have the visitors 3/78, that was essentially all she wrote of the defence.

East Ballarat maintained the resistance and could not be denied as they cruised passed the asking total just four wickets down on their way to 8/258 when play was rendered complete.

Yates was proud of the effort from his bowlers and the backup received in the field.

“Eka’s spell over the two days was outstanding and looks to have found some good rhythm,” Yates said.

“We bowled and fielded really well and with a better total on the board we would have been right in the game.”

While the Lions slump to sixth (W2, L2) as a result, it will mean very little in the scheme of things if they find a way to overcome ladder leaders Wendouree (W4,L0) when they meet on Day one of action this Saturday at Darley Park from 1pm.

BCA FIRST GRADE – (ROUND 5)

Darley 145, Overs 62.2. N.Yates 29, R.Hoey 25, L.Herring 25.

East Ballarat 8/258, Overs 68.4. M.Ekanayake 4/76, S.Dissanayake 3/30.

Darley lost on first innings.

BCA SECOND GRADE – (ROUND 5)

North Ballarat 168, Overs 70. Day.Locke 3/26, J.Murphy 2/22

Darley 148, Overs 53.2 Dr.Locke 41, J.Martindale 23.

Darley lost by 20 runs..

BCA THIRD GRADE – (ROUND 5)

Buninyong 9/23, Overs 27.5. Z.Aguis 3/11, A.Ward 2/2, J.Oorloff 2/4, L.Sanders 2/6.

Darley 5/159, Overs 39. S.Sanders 54*, D.Hoey 53.

Darley WON on first innings.