RICHMOND handed debuts to two new players on a rain-interrupted first round of the Premier Cricket season on Saturday.
Former South Warrandyte quick Steve Garrett and teenage wicketkeeper Jack Harper both got their first Tigers caps as the Tigers got within five runs of securing a Duckworth-Lewis enforced win.
Garrett took 1-12 from eight overs and Harper took two catches and showed solid hands as the Tigers bowled out Camberwell for 94 from 45.1 overs before the rain set in.
Tigers captain Allan Wise took 4-18 to lead his bowlers.
The Tigers still got a chance later in the afternoon to steal a win, needing to make 0-30 in five overs to win via the Duckworth-Lewis rule.
The Tigers looked a chance at 0-25 with five balls remaining before losing two wickets in two balls to end on 2-29.
Wise said the match ended in bizarre circumstances but he was disappointed his side couldn't get the win, one that could have proven invaluable with so few matches completed.
"Only one team could win the game, which was a bit strange, but they are the rules," he said.
"It was a bit of a hollow feeling to bowl a side out for 94 and not get the win, which would have been very handy."
Wise said once the Tigers lost a wicket it was much too difficult to know what their revised target was.
The Tigers could get keeper-batsman Ryan Carters back in the side for their one-day clash with St Kilda at Junction Oval this Saturday. All-rounder Will Sheridan was also on Victorian duties in Western Australia and will remain an uncertain starter depending on whether he remains in the Bushrangers side.
"St Kilda has picked up some good recruits and Junction Oval can be hard to play on depending on the weather conditions during the week," Wise said.
"Very few of our guys got to bat on Saturday, so they will hopefully be nice and eager for this match."