Tara Murray
Melton’s Ben MacRae has been itching to play the two-day format in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association for a couple of months and showed why on Saturday.
MacRae put on a show against Endeavour Hills to have his side in a strong position after day one of the match in the east-west division.
MacRae made 154 as the Lions made 7-282 from their 80 overs.
Coach Mitch Stephens said while it looked like they would score more than 300 at one stage, they were happy with 282.
“It was good to be back to two-day cricket,” he said.
“Nothing changes in two-day cricket for us, the focus remains on batting out the overs and putting ourselves in a good position.
“To have 282 is a competitive target for our bowlers to set attacking fields and hopefully bowl to them.”
MacRae hit 15 fours in his innings, the last man out as he tried to push the score late.
Stephens said the return of MacRae had been a massive boost for the squad and something they were missing last year.
“He has been massive for the group,” he said. “Ben showed us how to bat in the two-day format.
“Ben brings that leadership and I know he’s been keen for a couple of months about playing two-day cricket and getting out there and batting some time.”
A win this week, would be the Lions’ fourth in a row and the fifth for the season. For a side that didn’t win a game last season, it’s a massive step up.
The club is also starting to show some depth across the sides, with Stephens dropped back to the second XI this week.
He said it was a sign of a really strong club.
“We’re having conversations throughout all the grades about dropping players,” he said. “We want players firing at all levels.”
The wins are also seeing the confidence grow in the group, with good numbers at training since returning from the Christmas break.
Stephens said despite the success that they’ve had this season, nothing changes for the group for the rest of the season.
“Hopefully we can get a couple more wins on the board,” he said.
“With two-day cricket there’s changes to teams and changes to the landscape. We’ll look to bat our overs out every game.
“We’ll hopefully get a couple of wins on the board and look at individual success as well. Players who have had good starts like MacRae and [Jason] Hibbert need to push on.
“Others who haven’t had the best seasons need to step up, like [Joshua] Luca did in the T20.”
The Lions won their first T20 match of the season last week, beating Yarraville.
The Eagles were sent in and finished with 6-120 from their 20 overs. Joshua Raymer top scored with 61 at the top of the order.
Luca took 4-19 for the Lions.
Joel Mitchener held the Lions innings together and despite losing late wickets were able to get the win with seven balls remaining.
The Lions finished 8-123 with Mitchener top scoring with 58. Raymer took two wickets for the Eagles.
The Lions host Werribee in the second round of the T20 competition on Tuesday night.
