LIFE in a new competition has been rewarding for Nursery Ridge and for Ouyen, both undefeated after four rounds in Sunraysia Cricket Association’s second division.
Both former Red Cliffs Cricket Association participants hold a 3-0 record, as well as a cancelled game between each other on October 19.
The Red Cliffs competition went into hiatus earlier this year as several clubs joined the Sunraysia competition across multiple grades.
Ridge’s Tuan Abden (110 runs) and the Rams’ Connor Schultz (110) are both inside the top 10 for runs in the division. Ouyen captain Alex Morrish is second for wickets with nine, while Nic and Tim Vine have six each.
Perhaps one of the biggest challenges for the new clubs was returning to two-day cricket this round, but Ridge vice-captain Liam Heath said they had enjoyed the challenge of the first day.
His side have set Irymple 193 for victory on Saturday after Heath and brother Zac both scored 41.
Meanwhile, Ouyen were all out for 142, Daniel Pryse top scoring with 33. But they have Mildura West 5/39 in the chase.
Heath, who is acting captain while regular skipper Brad Purdue is away on veterans cricket duties, said life in Sunraysia has started well.
“Coming into the seconds has been a really good test of our ability against some really good sides,” he said.
“On the weekend we batted out our 70 overs, which I think is pretty good for a team that hasn’t played a lot of two-day cricket in recent years.
“RCCA I think was 35 or 36 overs, so it’s definitely been a goal for us to be able to bat our overs out and put competitive scores on the board and challenge these sides that we look up to.
“Ouyen are doing well also, so it’s nice to see the Red Cliffs teams doing well.
“I think there can be a bit of a stigma around the Red Cliffs league, but I think it’s a pretty skilled competition.”
Heath said it has been a learning curve taking over the captaincy.
“It’s a new role for me but being vice-captain under “Poodle” (Purdue) and having he and Jed Mensforth there who have so much experience, they give me a lot of guidance and I’m learning a lot from them,” he said.
