No thrills for Hills

By Marc McGowan
ENDEAVOUR Hills’ promising start to the VSDCA season hit a hurdle before Christmas with a 74-run thrashing at the hands of Malvern at Sydney Pargeter Reserve.
The Hills has lost two of its last three matches, with the other being washed out when its batsmen would have had to score a season-high tally to achieve victory.
Captain-coach Vaughan Baxter could not hide his disappointment at the result.
“Our three losses this year have all been pretty huge and that’s why we have the worst percentage of the teams on the same points as us,” he said.
“We’re a fair way off the mark when it comes to the good sides.”
Endeavour Hills quick Matthew Foenander (2/32) picked up the early scalp of Roosters opener Trent Lyons, and a run-out reduced the visitors to 2/30 soon after.
But former Victorian all-rounder Shawn Craig (54 runs), batting at first drop, proved a difficult man to remove and started the rescue mission with Ranga DeSilva (28).
Craig is averaging 61.2 runs an innings for Malvern this season to go with his 13 wickets at 15.
Captain Monto Perera (46) picked up the slack when Craig departed, with his quick-fire innings helping the Roosters reach 200 at the end of their 45 overs.
Englishman Richard Evans (4/51) was the pick of the Hills’ bowlers.
Endeavour Hills opening batsmen Justin Merlino (25) and Evans gave their side a solid-enough start and the hosts moved to 1/54.
But the Hills had little choice but to force the tempo at that stage as the required run-rate rose.
A batting collapse of 5/14 ensued, with Craig (4/21) snaring two of the wickets, as Endeavour Hills’ hopes faded.
The Hills’ lower order managed some resistance, but the run chase proved too much.
Malvern medium-pacer Brett Chard (2/19) was the other multiple wicket-taker.
Baxter remained upbeat despite the heavy defeat.
“I’m still very positive to have three-and-a-half wins to Christmas,” he said.
“Looking at the fixture, we only have one really good side to play (before the finals) and the rest are against sides around our mark.”
Baxter conceded that his side’s batting needed to improve and may make changes to the batting line-up this weekend.
“Our batting was supposed to be a strength for us, but it has let us down and for us not to make 200 runs (in an innings this season) is pretty ordinary,” he said.
“I’m considering going up to open. We just seem to struggle for experience up the top in one-day cricket.”
Endeavour Hills faces Moorabbin in another one-dayer on Saturday.
The game starts at 12.30pm at Moorleigh Community Village in Bentleigh East.