Win a “professional job”

By Todd Whelan

Darley Cricket Club – Results R11

BCA ladder leaders Darley kickstarted their return in 2023 with a comprehensive eight wicket win on the road over bottom side Buninyong on Saturday 7 January.

After losing the toss, the Lions were thrown the ball on a tricky wicket but wasted little time having the hosts on the backfoot.

Opening bowlers Madushanka Ekanayake (4/25) and Benny Longhurst (2/20) ripped through the ‘Bunnies’ top order to have them reeling at 4/33. A steady fall of wickets followed on the back of a disciplined display from the broader Lions attack. The winless Buninyong were eventually dismissed for just 70 in under 29 overs.

Lions Captain Benny Longhurst was impressed with the returns of his bowlers that included 10 maidens.

“We bowled really well on a tricky wicket,” he said.

“We had an even spread from the bowlers before “Eka” cleaned up the tail to finish with four.”

Longhurst also gave praise for the effort in the field, an area of recent concern for the Lions.

“(It was a) good fielding performance without any dropped catches or mistakes,” he said.

With a successful run chase bordering on the inevitable, dashing opener Dilon Chandima 48 (24) wasted little time putting this game to bed as the Lions surpassed the hosts target in just eight overs. The Round 11 fixture was done and dusted in less than three hours.

Longhurst summed up the nature of the win to a tee, describing the ‘half an afternoon’s work’ as an “extremely professional performance from the whole team.”

BCA 1st GRADE – (R11)
Buninyong 70, Overs 28.5. M. Ekanayake 4/25, H. Killoran 2/12, B. Longhurst 2/20.
Darley 2/72, Overs 8. D. Chandima 48.
Darley WON by 8 wickets.