FULL WRAP OF LOCAL CRICKET
ST PETERS has set itself up for a crack at its first victory of the season with a solid 254 against Newcomb & District on Saturday.
The Saints were well served at the top of the order by opening pair Travis Salisbury (24) and Hayden Illingworth (54), and No.3 batsman Sam Plummer (54) put in a lengthy stay to ensure there was no middle order collapse at Walker Oval.
John Elliott (6-75) toiled hard all day for the visitors, bowling 25.1 overs in a momentous effort, with support coming from Josh Walker (2-56).
St Peter’s captain Steve Illing- worth said he was impressed by his team’s ability to dig in after a challenging start to the season.
“We’ve come off four losses and a really tough start to the year, but we firmly believe that we’ve got a really good young playing group that can push all the good sides,” Illingworth said. “It’s been a strange start. “We’ve really lost all of our games with poor moments where we’ve done some good things and then had a really poor half-hour or so.
“But we were on a fresh wicket at St Peters and I said to the guys, let’s just make 250, set a target we can defend, and everybody had to dig in so it was just the day we needed.”
After partnerships of 31, 6, 9 for the first wicket in the opening three games, St Peters has notched up 50 and 48 in the past two weeks, coinciding with Salisbury’s appearance at the top of the order.
Illingworth said his addition to the team proved the advantages of selecting players on their merits.
“We’ve been four for less than 50 in three of the first four games we lost,” he said.
“But we turned the corner a bit last week, knowing that the first few guys need to set up for the rest.
“Travis batted in the middle for us last year and got a few starts but he has been in ripping nick opening in the twos.
“Last week he got 37 (in the first XI) and looked a million bucks before a tough lbw decision, and yesterday he got 24 but with the wicket being a bit tougher he had to work.
“It says a lot for picking guys on form.”