Hills bowler Richard Evans has been a consistent performer so far this season taking 7/64 from 27 overs.
By Justin Robertson
ENDEAVOUR Hills’ batting woes continue as it was rocked for an embarrassing 47 on a wet green top, leaving it winless since October.
Its round seven encounter against Williamstown at Sydney Pargeter Reserve on Saturday was the fourth loss in a row and was another blow to its finals aspirations.
Hills coach John Hayes said it was the senior players that stood up for the opposition.
“We just didn’t handle the bowling conducive conditions all that well, not through lack of trying either,” he said.
“They had some experienced players that played according to the difficult conditions – we don’t have a lot of experienced players at the moment.”
Williamstown’s Graham Murdoch took 4/4 from five overs in a fine spell of bowling that saw the ball pop, grip and bounce on one of the greenest wickets Hayes said he had seen this season.
Henry Vettivelu was the only Hills player to reach double figures with 13, in an innings that included three ducks and five scores of five and under.
“Early on it was real hard going, but the wicket did start to settle down a bit,” he said.
“When we bowled, our opening bowlers were coming on to the bat and they simply got underneath the ball and hit out and tried to get the runs quickly.”
A target of 48 was never in doubt as Williamstown won the match easily by nine wickets inside 15 overs. Richard Evans struck early, claiming an lbw at 1/14, but the visitors looked in control and easily chased the small target.
Endeavour Hills – last on the ladder – has one win from six outings at the mid-season break.
Hayes said a round seven win was what his team needed to stay in touch with the eight, but it would use the break to freshen up for some hard work in the second half of the season.
“We’ve had a bad seven days and we won’t dwell on it,” he said. “So I’ve told the boys to head into Christmas relax and enjoy it and come out fresh for next year.”
