Burke digs in to give Supersaints narrow victory
ST ALBANS Breakwater assistant coach Adam Hausler has dubbed Tom Burke’s matchwinning halfcentury as his side’s most important innings of the season.
The patient Burke, in his first match of the season, led the Supersaints to a narrow two-wicket victory over Geelong West on Saturday at St Albans Reserve.
Resuming on 18 not out, Burke resisted the Rams in a 203-ball innings on his way to a vital 62 to help St Albans claim a big victory in the context of its season.
“It was the most important innings I’ve seen this season, even though we’ve had a guy make a hundred,” Hausler said.
“Last week he faced 66 balls for 18 runs and to do the same thing this week after losing an early wicket, it was great to see him get going again.
“It was one of the better innings I’ve seen at St Albans.”
Starting the day at 3-48 in pursuit of West’s target of 183, Sam Kelly (5-75) claimed the third of his five wickets by getting Ben Boatman (13) caught and bowled with just 11 runs added to the overnight score.
But Burke found an ally in playing-coach Chris Hester (34), with the pair putting on a vital 79-run fifth-wicket partnership.
“We were settled through the middle of the day, but then we lost Tom Burke not long before break, and then lost Alex Billington (2),” Hausler said.
“After the break, Hester went out lbw and I was sitting there really not sure what was going to go on.”
Following the loss of Burke, eventually bowled by Rams spinner Alex Buckwell (2-18), St Albans lost 4-5 to slip from 4-138 to 8-143 — still requiring another 40 runs to win.
But captain Zac Smith played with controlled aggression to calm any nerves, belting three sixes to finish unbeaten on 37 from just 21 balls to see his side home without further loss.
“It’s the way Zac bats,” Hausler said.
“When he’s in that mindset, you know you’re in a good spot because he counter-attacks and a lot of teams aren’t sure what to do when he’s going.
“He was smart to get some boundaries so they pushed everyone back, so then he could push some twos and threes with Billy Pedersen (three not out).”