Karl Turner displayed his all-round skills against Broadmeadows, top-scoring for Endeavour Hills in both its innings and claiming 3/38 with the leather.By Marc McGowan
THE brilliant performance of a seasoned veteran and the breakout game of a highly touted newcomer led Endeavour Hills to its first Victorian Sub District Cricket Association victory of the season on Saturday.
Matthew Hutchinson turned back the clock to snare 6/38 off 18 overs, while Durham all-rounder Karl Turner had an impact with both bat and ball.
They combined to help their team to an unlikely 17-run triumph over Broadmeadows at Sewell Reserve.
Hills captain-coach Ben Maroney knew his side required something special from Hutchinson on the weekend.
“I spoke with Matty Hutchinson and got a rocket up him. I said, ‘I need you to lift today’,” Maroney said.
“We didn’t want to be zip and two. He bowled really well.”
Endeavour Hills endured a dirty day with the willow on day one, managing just 138.
Turner top scored with 30 to have the Hills in a solid position, but an astonishing collapse of 7/26 put the team on the back foot.
Broadmeadows crept to 2/47 at stumps, with captain Steve Goodwin confident of reeling in the meagre total.
Goodwin would have been even more assured of his squad’s chances when it reached 2/70 before a similarly meek capitulation.
Turner made the third breakthrough by having Rory Collins caught behind for 17 by Jason Williams, and the momentum grew from there.
The home side was suddenly 5/85 moments later, with Turner and Hutchinson boasting two victims each.
A slight revival ensued only for Hutchinson to tear through the Broadmeadows line-up again.
After having already claimed the previous two wickets, he also pocketed the next four to have Broadmeadows floundering at 9/113.
The comeback was complete soon after when Turner had Mark O’Brien caught behind for 19 to dismiss Broadmeadows for 121.
With first innings points in the bag, Maroney sent an experimental batting order out, and it backfired as Endeavour Hills fell to 4/11.
But the steadying hand of Turner, who notched up his first VSDCA century, and support from Black and Maroney, guided the locals to 5/150 when the game was called to a close.
Maroney forced his players to train through the rain on the Thursday night beforehand as punishment for their poor batting display, and he was pleased with their response.
“I was not too impressed with them making 138,” he said.
“I assumed when we got there that it would be dry and broken up again, but because of the rain the pitch became quite fast and came to our favour.
“Everyone bowled extremely well and there was only one dropped catch.
“It was an excellent all-round effort, especially from Matty Hutchinson.”
After his team lost most of the close encounters last year, Maroney hopes the weekend’s result will be a turning point for the club.
Endeavour Hills will aim for consecutive wins when it faces Yarraville at Sydney Pargeter Reserve in a two-day clash starting on Saturday at 1pm.
