UPDATE: In a nail-biting finish, Craigieburn Eagles and Aberfeldie have ended their clash in a tie, forcing both teams to share the points in a gripping match on Saturday, October 14, 2023. This tie marks another thrilling chapter for the Eagles in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division, following a previous one-run victory against St Albans.
The Eagles faced a formidable challenge as Aberfeldie batted first, posting an impressive score of 9-263. Eagles’ coach Sean Bathman acknowledged the pressure of chasing such a high total in a one-day match. “You never want to be chasing that many runs,” he stated. “It was a fairly high score for our ground.”
Craigieburn needed 10 runs off the final over to clinch victory but fell just short, finishing at 7-263. Top performances came from Sammy Laffan, who scored 65 runs, and Adam Davies, adding 54 runs to the total. Bathman expressed pride in the team’s resilience, saying, “It goes to show the boys fight to the last ball.”
Despite the tie, Bathman remains optimistic, noting that the team is continually improving. “We’ve still got heaps of improvement to come. We’re gelling and getting used to how everyone plays,” he said. The Eagles now head into a challenging matchup against reigning premiers Deer Park, who remain undefeated in the competition. “It’s always good to come up against the best team in the competition,” Bathman added, underscoring the significance of this upcoming game.
Meanwhile, in another match, Westmeadows struggled against Yarraville Club, who set a target of 5-252 and restricted the Warriors to 237 runs. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on the Eagles as they prepare to face Deer Park, with fans eager to see if they can rise to the challenge.
This thrilling encounter underscores the competitive spirit of the league and the determination of both teams to push for victory. Keep watching for more updates as the season unfolds!
