Victoria’s positive start

In the 50-over format, the Victorian boys’ team remains undefeated with round one and two wins over the Northern Territory and South Australia.

In the first game, Victoria won the toss and elected to bat with openers Patrick Rowe and Dominic Bandara getting off to a solid start before stumbling at 2-34.

Victorian captain Fergus O’Neill (72) and vice-captain Ash Chandrasinghe (39) then steadied the ship, piling on a 103-run partnership and leading their team to a score of 7-186.

“The boys worked the ball around, ran well between the wickets and hit some fine boundaries against a Northern Territory attack that bowled quite well,” Cricket Victoria’s Chris Gorrie said.

In reply, Northern Territory started well, however, it was an exciting hat-trick from Alex Cesarios that allowed Victoria to dismiss the visitors for 72.

In a close encounter with South Australia, Chandrasinghe (57*) and O’Neill (28) again proved vital in Victoria’s batting innings.

Cesarios also provided a handy cameo with the bat, notching 24 off 16 balls to take Victoria’s total to 6-186.  

Wickets were hard to come by during South Australia’s innings, with captain Josh Hoffman (79) leading the charge.

Requiring a run-a-ball from the final seven overs, some tight bowling from Caleb Serong and great fielding saw Victoria restrict South Australia to 4-173.

“It was a hard fought win in a tough game that was played in the right spirit,” Gorrie said.

Victoria will look for its third win when they face New South Wales tomorrow.