English recruit fires for Hills

By Marc McGowan
ENDEAVOUR Hills defied the off-season loss of nine first XI players to post a 61-run win over Ormond at E.E. Gunn Reserve on Saturday.
The South/East Group match was reduced to a 45-overs-a-side affair after ground unavailability led VSDCA officials to cancel the competition’s opening weekend.
Englishman Richard Evans made a great start to his Hills career, compiling 64 at the top of the order before snaring 2/17 off eight overs with his left-arm mediums.
Evans and Peter Edwards’ (23) 62-run alliance took Endeavour Hills from a perilous 4/72 to 4/134 before a stunning collapse threatened to derail its innings. Ormond quick Dylan George uprooted Edwards’ stumps to pick up the first of five wickets for only 14 runs with just nine overs remaining in the Hills’ innings.
But teenagers Matthew Foenander (17 not out) and Lachlan McIver (7 not out) belied their tender years to stop the rot and steer Endeavour Hills to a competitive score of 177.
Richard Saniga and Foenander then restricted Ormond to 3/46, but Anthony Meyer (31) and Billy Harris’ (18) 56-run partnership appeared to put the hosts in control.
But the similarities between the two innings continued as off-spinner Shane Peake (4/17 off 5.1 overs) and Evans stepped in to destroy Ormond.
The Hills ultimately bowled Ormond out for just 116 – with the last seven wickets falling for 14 runs.
Chris Peake’s brilliant diving catch to remove Russell Oaten was one of Endeavour Hills’ highlights in a stellar fielding performance.
Neither side had much control over the ball on the day, delivering an astounding 51 wides between them.
Hills captain-coach Vaughan Baxter was delighted with his team’s season-opening victory. “We had nine changes to our side and everyone had written us off,” he said. “We were in a pretty bad position when they were 3/102 and we ended up winning easily, so it just shows to them that you never give up.”
Baxter praised Foenander’s and McIver’s efforts at the end of the innings, but said Shane Peake, who was in and out of the first XI last season, was the difference.
“Shane Peake changed the direction of the game. I believe he is up to first XI cricket and he showed that on the weekend in a difficult situation,” Baxter said.
Endeavour Hills takes on Elsternwick, which also won, in a two-day contest at Elsternwick Park on Saturday from 1pm.