By Evelyn Leckie
MERNDA’S hopes of scoring its first win of the season were dashed when it lost to Banyule in its Diamond Valley Cricket Association two-day Money Shield match on Saturday.
Banyule won the toss sending in Mernda to bat.
Playing at home, Mernda scored 114 runs, after being bowled out in 39 overs.
Damien Stevens top-scored with 38 and Dean Shaw contributing 25.
Banyule replied with 2/115, after 26 overs.
Mernda’s Captain James Taylor said the team would put what they learnt into practice for the next week’s clash against Bundoora United.
“We’ll be alright, there’s no point in dwelling – we’ll learn from the weekend and put it into practice,” Taylor said.
“We were one for 50 in an hour and a half before drinks – we lost a couple in a hurry and never really recovered with the bat.”
Taylor said Aaron Greenough and Damien Stevens were the standouts.
“Greenough bowled eight overs from one end and took one for 15 to tie it down but we never had enough runs,” he said.
“Damien Stevens battled hard at the top and got a few runs.”
Taylor said Bundoora United was one of the better teams in the competition and Mernda would have to bring what they learnt from Banyule to the next game.
Mernda are currently ninth on the ladder, with Lalor Stars ahead in first place followed by Banyule in second.
