VTCA: The near perfect start for Yarraville Club
A Yarraville Club gun came back to haunt his former side with a maiden century while a young gun announced his arrival as the reigning premier dug itself out of a major hole to start the season.
Yarraville Club’s first innings of the VTCA season was saved in almost the perfect fashion.
Nandhalal Sangaran scored 103 not out, his first century in Clubbers’ colours, against his former side Sunshine United.
Mathieson King, 17, scored a half-century with his first opportunity with the bat in the first grade.
The pair combined for a 107-run partnership to dig Yarraville Club out of 6-64 hole on Saturday before the visitors eventually posted 8-235.
It’s a target that gives their bowlers “something to work with” according to captain-coach Mitch Johnstone.
“We were really struggling, it came down to a combination of some poor shots from us and steady bowling from their guys,” he said.
“Sangaran is a really good man in a crisis, he played a similar innings in last year’s semi-final. He was a little bit emotional doing against his former side, it was really nice to see him get a nice round of applause.
“He obviously knew some of their bowlers and was able to take advantage of what they did. It was a really impressive start to his season.”
King, who the club has high hopes for, was the premiership captain of the Clubbers’ under-17s side last season.
He played in the Second XI for most of last season after making the move from St Albans.
“He plays footy as well so he didn’t have much of a pre-season but whatever he did worked,” Johnstone said.
“For a young guy, he’s got a really even temperament and he was able to show that in a high pressure situation.
“We’re excited about how he’s going to develop over the course of the season.”
Yarraville Club’s score was booted by some late order hitting from off-season recruit Nathan Johnson who finished with 29 runs off 28 deliveries.
“He had a bit of a lean year with the bat for Druids last season but I knew he had it in him,” Johnstone said.
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“I played in the VTCA rep game with him and he scored some quick runs on a tricky pitch. He’s got a beautiful bat swing.
“When you’re coming in at eight or nine you’ve got licence to play your shots. Then we’ve got Ash Sweet at 10 and Jackson Martin, who won the 17A batting award last season, there’s some depth there.”
Play will resume at 12.30pm on Saturday.
Originally published as VTCA: The near perfect start for Yarraville Club
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