It wasn’t pretty,but Darley got the job done to seal its second win of the Ballarat Cricket Association season.
Resuming at 2-27 against East Ballarat, things started well for the Lions who looked to be cruising to the 120 needed for victory.
At 2-75 the Lions looked in control, before losing five wickets to slump to 7-105.
The Lions still had a bit of work to do but were able to make the needed runs, before being bowled out for 139
Alexander and Ben Longhurst were able to guide the side to the win, while Ryan Ali top scored with 40.
It was an unusual position for Alexander, who normally opens the batting. A knee injury saw him come to the crease at number 9.
” I’m battling a knee injury at the moment,” he said.
“I was trying not to bat. I was lucky I didn’t have to bat for too long,”
Alexander said sometimes the smallest run chases were in fact the hardest ones.
“We were more focused on executing the game plan than the runs we needed,” he said.
“We started well before losing wickets which hurt us. We were still reasonably confident we could get the job done, despite giving momentum back.”
While several teams backed up on Sunday in a one-day round the Lions had the bye.
Alexander said they were more than pleased not to have to play two games in as many days.
“If you can have that option not to, you’d take it and space it out.
“Our Sunday one-day game comes when we have the two-day bye that weekend. The fixture worked in our favour.”
While Alexander is in doubt for the Lions clash with Wendouree this weekend with the knee injury, he said they were likely to have two inclusions.
Lachlan Herring is 95 per cent to return from injury, while the first of their three Sri Lankan imports has arrived. Roshan Anuruddha is expected to make his debut this week.
The Lions are hoping to get one back against Wendouree, who beat them in round one in a one-dayer. The last two-day clash between the sides was last season’s grand final which Wendouree also won.
“They’re a quality opposition and played really well in round one,” he said.
“We want to get the points and go 1-1 with them and we know we’ll be mixing it with them to fight for finals positions.
“The next three games are pretty big for us. Nice to start them well.”
