WANGOOM was in unfamiliar territory after wrapping up its Grassmere Cricket Association round one clash against Mailors Flat.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The victory marked just the second time in a decade and first time in three seasons the Roosters have won their opening match of the season.
They can make it back-to-back triumphs when they meet defending GCA premier Killarney at Killarney Recreation Reserve today.
“I think we’re going from one extreme to the other,” paceman Nick Kermond said.
“Credit to Flat last week to get a team on the park. I was chatting to Chris Fleming after the game and they’ve got a couple to come in.
“But Killarney, not a lot has been said of them even though they’re the defending premier.
“I don’t think they’ve been weakened at all.
“They’ve got a few young lads who are the best players in the league in Daniel Jones, Brendan Chatfield and young Anthony Martin.
“And they’ve got their tails up, too, they’ve got that confidence now.”
But so does Wangoom, for the first time in a while, after its 91-run win to start the season.
Four of the Roosters’ top-five batsmen reached 20, while five bowlers took wickets in an unspectacular-but-encouraging performance.
“All areas went pretty well. The bowlers all performed and the batters, pretty much everyone got a start,” Kermond said.
“We made a good score, 198, but you’d still rather get that score with a couple of wickets down (not eight).
“We had a pretty even contribution, two or three blokes got in the 30s and a couple were in the 20s, which was good.
“But the next step would be to do what Killarney did (against Hawkesdale). They only lost a couple of wickets and got a good score.”
Kermond was also impressed with the debuts of opener Naresh Kumar (26) and John Grinstead (34) in the win.
Former Nestles top-grade player Matt Williams slots into the side today and also provides a capable option with the bat.
In other GCA matches, Panmure hosts Yambuk fresh off routing Grassmere for just 27.
Grassmere’s task of bouncing back from the dismal day is away to Hawkesdale.
And resurgent Purnim, buoyed by the efforts of recruits Bernie Harris and Richard McKellar in round one, hosts Mailors Flat.