Darley is hoping Saturday’s performance with the bat is a taste of more consistent performances to come in the Ballarat Cricket Association.
The benchmark side with the ball last season, the Lions let themselves down with the bat on several occasions – and it cost them a finals spot.
On Saturday, the Lions had seven batsmen score 19 or more against Ballarat-Redan as they scored 8-264 on day one of the two-day match.
Lions coach Heath Pritchard said it was pleasing to have multiple players contribute to the total.
“We batted really well and there was some consistent performances,” he said.
“The top order of Lachie Herring, Jake Wilkie, Zac Ticehurst and myself did a good job, before the likes of Brad Barnes, Drew Locke and David Hoey finished off the innings.”
He said it would have been nice if at least one player had gone on and made a big score.
“That’s the only disappointing thing if I’m being harsh,” he said. “You need someone to go on with their innings – you can’t always rely on six or seven scores between 19 and 45.
“We’ve got to continue improving with the bat – it’s the difference between missing out on finals or being a real competitive side.”
Lachlan Herring made 45 and Ticehurst 42.
Pritchard said Herring had showed some new-found maturity with the bat since returning from a year off.
“He’s been really patient so far,” he said. “One of the knocks on him in the past has been he was prone to a rash shot, which he hasn’t done so far [this season].
“He went out to a full-blooded cut shot, not a silly shot.
“He’s got a bit more maturity and I think a big score is around the corner.”
Pritchard said he was confident of getting a second straight win next week.
“We’ll back ourselves in,” he said. “We were the benchmark with the ball last season and hard to beat with a score like we’ve made.
“Only one side made more than 145 against us last year and that was on hard wicket.”
In other games, North Ballarat is closing in on first-innings points against Wendouree. North Ballarat will resume at 4-97, needing 129 for victory.
Golden Point made 7-263 against Brown Hill and East Ballarat, 1-15, is chasing Napoleons-Sebastopol’s 154.
Darley’s second-grade side is chasing Brown Hill’s 287.
Heath Jamieson took three wickets, while Beau Jamieson chipped in with two.
