Tara Murray
Burnside Springs United is hoping to kick start its season in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association Russell Pollock Shield.
It’s been a tough start for Burnside which is hoping to make it into a second straight final series.
Between the weather and a byes and side has completed just one match and sits bottom of the table.
Coach Cass Elorza said it had been a tough start to the season.
“We’ve lost a couple of games,” he said. “Round one we played half a game and even though we were five down overnight we were in a good spot to win.
“Against Donnybrook we had a bit of a batting collapse. We’ve started off this game strongly in tough conditions.
“We are still building and feel we have a good shot this week.”
Burnside is midway through its match with Jacana.
Not surprisingly the Jaguars decided to bat in hot conditions. They were bowled out for 172 in the 74th over.
Elorza said they were happy with that total.
“It was a really flat track and at one point we were looking at chasing 200-plus,” he said. “We did a good job to peg them back to 170.
It’ll be a good challenge for us and hopefully the weather holds off.”
Shohan Rangika took four wickets for Burnside, while Ishan Perera and Mathew Sanders took two wickets each.
Burnside will resume at 1-1 after Oscar Hodgetts went out for a duck.
Elorza said after the slow start to the season a win is crucial in getting their season back on track.
“With byes as well we have to compete against them,” he said. “Every game counts for us.
“We have our second bye in the last round. We need to get to work and hopefully be in a good spot to push into that top four.”
While Burnside is focused on next week, it will be a big milestone for the club the following week when they finally get to play at home after works on the ground.
“It will be the first time in more than five years we can have two teams playing at the same time,” Elorza said.
Elorza said off field things were going really well for the club with big numbers meaning they’ve had to put a sixth team in.
Elsewhere, there are no scores available for Melton Centrals and Barkly St Uniting.
In senior division, Sydenham Hillside is in control against Sunshine United, 0-55 in reply to 152.
Anthony Alleyne took four wickets for the Storm.
In the Roy Picone Shield, Caroline Springs made 9-254 against Moonee Valley, while in the Evans-Clark Shield, Melton South Royals are 3-48 in reply to Laverton’s 111.
