Eagles over the hills

VSDCA South East – 1st XI Round 10 (day two)
THE young Eagles soared highest but Endeavour Hills (240) also found itself just short of a sizeable target against Malvern (8/256).
Zach Allen (48) – fresh off his Victorian Under-19s duties – started the innings emphatically as he struck towards another half-ton.
He would be brought undone, after a 78-run opening stand with Thomas Hafil (27), as his pegs were sent flying.
Ben Swift (54) was the next young Eagle to get his eye in and bludgeoned his third half-century in the season to keep the score ticking along with Justin Merlino (27) through the middle order.
Merlino’s defiance would come to an end as he lost his bails to Brett Chard (1/34) at 5/131 – leaving the effort to Swift as he found some support from the lower order before he was trapped in front after making his 50.
The overs would creep up on Endeavour Hills and with wickets falling consistently, it spelled disaster.
The last ditch efforts of Richard Saniga (26) and Vaughan Baxter (25) weren’t enough as the Eagles fell 16 short.
Endeavour Hills is seventh and heads to wooden-spoon contenders Moorabbin this round.