Hills avoids total defeat

By Ben Hope
ENDEAVOUR Hills managed to stave off an outright defeat at the hands of Bundoora on Saturday after finding itself all out for 110 in the first innings.
Coach John Hayes said he was disappointed with the overall result but pleased with the team’s denial of an outright win to Bundoora.
“Of course it would have been nice to only lose a couple of wickets in the second innings but I am happy with our effort,” he said.
The Hills went into the second innings at A. K. Line Reserve with the goal to get the second best side in the league all out for less than 33 runs. However, Bundoora managed to resume from 0/77 to declare on 3/115 in the hope of knocking Endeavour Hills out early in the second innings.
The Hills responded with a rallying 8/163, dashing Bundoora’s hopes of gaining 10 points on the ladder that would have seen them crawl closer to Oakleigh’s 16-point ladder lead.
Hayes said that with some players unable to play, he had to make some changes in the batting line-up.
“Matthew Foenander carried on his form with 30 not out and Matthew Peake made up for a duck in the first innings with 31.”
“Jarod Pickering also did a great job as an opener, although he didn’t put a lot of runs on the board, he looked comfortable and occupied the crease.”
Hayes said he hung in the game to give more batsmen an opportunity to play.
“For such a disappointing game it was nice to at least show some fight.
“Our biggest let down so far is that we haven’t batted well first, which is something you have to do well if you want to be a finals contender.”
In the field Neil Peake had a hand in all three Bundoora dismissals, with two catches and a stumping.
Hayes remains optimistic about the rest of the season, saying the team will have to take it one week at a time, but confirmed a finals spot is still a “mathematical possibility” for his side.
This weekend the locals will take on Balwyn at their home ground.
“Balwyn is a team that we have a realistic win possibility against,” Hayes said. “We will be going in confident on our home ground, last time we played at home we had a really good win.
“It’s a flat wicket there at the moment.”
Endeavour Hills is trailing in 12th place on the ladder with 24 points.