Endeavour Hills’ English recruit Karl Turner blasts a drive through the field during his team-leading knock of 30 against Broadmeadows on Saturday. By Marc McGowan
A STUNNING batting collapse put Endeavour Hills on the back foot in its Victorian Sub District Cricket Association (VSDCA) contest against Broadmeadows at Sewell Reserve on Saturday.
It could have been so much different, with the Hills cruising to 3/112 before the carnage began.
The top five batsmen, Karl Turner (30 runs), Ryan Pearson (23), Jason Williams (20), captain-coach Ben Maroney (19) and Shaun Tongue (19), all made starts and appeared to be handling the spinner’s haven well.
But it was only a matter of time until Falcons leg-spinner and captain Steven Goodwin (6/48 off 17 overs) started wreaking havoc in the favourable conditions.
Goodwin removed Maroney, Tongue and Williams then proceeded to destroy the tail as Endeavour Hills lost 7/26 to be all-out for just 138.
Off-spinner Geoff Turner was Goodwin’s partner in crime in claiming two scalps of his own.
In response, Broadmeadows lost Andrew Bonaguro early, and when 16-year-old debutant Matthew Aslett caught Michael Young off his own bowling, the Falcons were 2/47.
Aslett was a late call-up after Ryan Kitchin injured his foot at work during the week.
Wicketkeeper Rory Collins and Goodwin safely negotiated Broadmeadows to stumps at 2/57, but the Hills has done enough to leave the door ajar.
Left-arm orthodox spinner Shane Peake and right-arm leg spinner Dom Paynter will be vital to Endeavour Hills’ chances this weekend, while Maroney’s part-time off-spinners will also come into play.
Maroney blamed a lack of concentration on his batting line-up’s fall from grace.
“We were cruising just before the tea break and the boys thought they’d cruise on through,” he said.
“But there were a couple of quick wickets and they led to a couple more and all of a sudden we went from 3/87 to 8/123 at tea in a matter of half an hour.
“The pitch deteriorated a bit and the boys weren’t willing to put their head down against the spinners.”
The Hills mentor still feels his squad has a big shot at victory when the match resumes at 1pm on Saturday.
“If we can get a couple of early wickets we’ll be well on top,” Maroney said.
“As I spoke to the bowlers about, I’m not looking at them bowling fast, we just need to put it at the top of off-stump and let the pitch do most of the work.
“Hopefully, if we can put a bit of pressure on this early in the year, with the runs on the board, we might be able to do it.”
