ENGLISH recruit Stuart Meaker made a stunning debut for Fairfield Liverpool taking four wickets spearheaded the Lions to a six-wicket win over Parramatta at Rosedale Oval on Saturday.
With the first day's play washed out the previous Saturday the match reverted to a 120-overs game with the Lions making 4-146 chasing down Parramatta's 145. Mitchell Williams top-scored for the Lions with 34 not out. Bowling first, the Lions dismissed the visitors in 52 overs, with right-arm paceman Meaker taking 4-36 from 15 overs. The consistent John Boulous took 3-33.
Meaker, 20, who plays with English county team Surrey, was recruited several months ago and arrived last week.
Cook said Meaker played for the Lions' Poidevin-Gray team last week before making his debut in the top grade. ``Stuart bowled with good pace and he'll bring extra strike power to our attack,'' Cook said.
The Lions were missing NSW bowlers Doug Bollinger and Grant Lambert and batsman Ben Rohrer, who was injured after leading the NSW second XI against South Australia last week. After eight games the Lions are seventh on 25 points just outside the top six on run rate.
``The team is well poised after eight games and the next few matches before the Christmas and new year break are crucial,'' said Lions president Richard Cook.
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