Rain didn’t deter Cats
GEELONG will draw enormous confidence from its fighting three- wicket win over Fitzroy- Doncaster, coach Damien Shanahan says.
Leading into a crucial double-header with reigning champs Richmond and a star- studded Casey- South Melbourne this weekend, Shanahan said the rainaffected victory had provided a timely boost after a disappointing start to the Victorian Premier Cricket season.
‘‘We really set ourselves on having a really good first month,’’ Shanahan said.
‘‘ We’ve got a few tough games in the first month and to get a win on the board — get over last week’s poor start and get us on the winner’s list — was super important.
‘‘There’s no doubt there will be confidence drawn out of this performance leading into a game against last year’s premiers in a onedayer and Casey-South Melbourne, who will probably be at full- strength with a couple of international players and Damien Wright back. So they’ll both be really tough opponents next weekend.
‘‘If we get a couple of wins over that period, we’re sitting right back up where we need to be.’’
The Cats chalked up their first win, chasing down Fitzroy’s (7-167 from 45.2 overs) revised Duckworth- Lewis target of 139 in the 30th over, thanks to superb knocks from Tom Elliot (40 from 48 balls) and skipper Meyrick Buchanan (33 from 34).
‘‘The boys did really well to get there. It was a really good partnership between Meyrick Buchanan and Tom Elliot. They set the foundations for us to chase it down,’’ Shanahan said.
‘‘Tom gave a really good i nsight i nto what he’s capable of doing. The amount of work he put in during the pre-season, he looked magnificent. Meyrick will be better for the run — no doubt — getting 30-odd at a run-a-ball. It was difficult conditions and he made it look easy.’’
Shanahan was also pleased with his side’s performance, heaping praise on seamer Luke Muller, who snared 3-15, including the prized scalp of former Victorian Bushranger Lloyd Mash for 52.
‘‘ Our bowling performance was brilliant,’’ he said.
‘‘ We were led by Luke Muller and Meyrick Buchanan and Hayden Butterworth with spin. Adam Di Giacomo was good early until he hurt his ankle slipping on the wicket — bowled a couple of maidens — and Dom McGlinchey was really good. He bowled a good spell of eight overs in the middle there and applied a lot of pressure, which was fantastic for a young fellow.’’
Showers interrupted play, reducing the match to 45 overs each before another lengthy delay during Geelong’s innings shortened the clash to 32 overs.
Meanwhile, Michael Condy made 66 in Geelong’s narrow second XI loss. Fitzroy chased down the Cats’ 195 with nine balls to spare.