Hills has tough ask ahead

ENDEAVOUR Hills will be fighting for its 2007-08 season in the Victorian Sub District Cricket Association this Saturday, after lowly Croydon last weekend launched a bid to railroad the home side’s finals aspirations.
In a rain-delayed fixture at Sydney Pargeter Reserve, Croydon won the toss and chose to bowl in a bid to extract some life out of the pitch.
Endeavour Hills opener Ryan Pearson (53) initially thwarted those plans by returning to form in fine style, guiding his team to 3/109 before being bowled by Croydon off-spinner Andrew Hurley.
As Endeavour Hills playing coach Ben Maroney reflected this week, it was Hurley’s introduction that started the rot as the Hills lost 7/33 to be all out for 142.
“When the pitch started to dry out after tea, it started popping and seaming around everywhere,” he said.
“The slower they were the more they stuck into the pitch and gripped.
“(Hurley) bowled at a nagging length and just let the pitch do the work.”
Having initially thought 200-250 would be a good score, Maroney reconsidered as the pitch deteriorated and was ultimately satisfied with the sub-150 total.
In desperate need of quick wickets, Endeavour Hills unleashed pace duo Simon Black and Matt Hutchinson on Croydon in an awkward five-over twilight session.
To Maroney’s relief, Black (2/2) claimed two crucial scalps to give his side some momentum at stumps on day one.
“We definitely needed to get those wickets to keep us in the game overnight,” Maroney admitted.
“And if we can get a couple early this week we’ll be right on top.”