Playing the top three teams from last season in the first three rounds of this season, Darley could have been forgiven for not having high hopes in the early rounds.
The Lions have surprised themselves and many in the Ballarat Cricket Association by winning their opening two games, and they’re well on the way to an outright win over Napoleons/Sebastopol in the third round.
Darley coach Heath Pritchard says the Lions believe that if they can be competitive the wins will come.
“Two and a half games in and we have three wins in the pocket. It’s exceeded all expectations,” he said. “The task now is to maintain that; it’s only November.”
On Saturday, Darley bowled Napoleons/Sebastopol out for 47 in 30 overs.
The Lions needed only three bowlers, Pritchard the chief destroyer with 5-12 off 15.2 overs. Bradley Barnes took three wickets and Matt Cape the other two.
By stumps on day one, the Lions were 4-87 with Richard Moore 51 not out.
“It was absolutely a good day. It’s rare to get the points [first innings] on day one of a match,” Pritchard said. “We bowled really well and Brad got early wickets coming back from the seconds, which he played in to get some confidence back. We didn’t have the easiest draw and to have 18 points on the board two and half games into the season is amazing.”
The Lions, who finished eighth last season, have their sights on an outright win this Saturday.
“We will likely declare at some stage and even look at declaring before the start of play,” Pritchard said.
He said a goal this season was forming less of a reliance on Cape, the side’s star.
“We’ve had three different players make 50s in the first three matches,” he said. “There’s different players stepping up. Matt is the heart and soul of the club. He had a 100 in the second match and even though he got a duck this week, he got wickets.”
Pritchard, in his first season with the Lions since joining from sub-district club Werribee, has taken 12 wickets himself.
“I’ve only batted once, so I have to make sure I get a few scalps,” he said.
“The move to here has been really good. My kids go to school in Bacchus Marsh so I know the area.”
