A century to Nathan Taylor wasn’t enough for Melton to keep its unbeaten start to the Victorian Sub-district Cricket Association’s north-west competition intact.
Facing a competitive Brunswick side, the Lions went into the match looking to get an indication of where they sit against the best sides.
After conceding 9-254 with the bat on day one, the Lions had a task ahead of them on Saturday.
They were in trouble early at 3-41, before a 50-run partnership between Taylor and David Kirk. Kirk then fell for 35 and the Lions continued to lose wickets at regular intervals.
At 8-138, it looked like the game could soon be over.
Taylor, with the support of Dylan Clarke, had other ideas and batted out the rest of the innings for the Lions to finish 8-200.
Taylor finished 101 not out, while Clarke, who came in at number 10, finished 11 not out.
Only four players reached double figures for the Lions in the disappointing result.
It’s the Lions’ first loss this season and it means they slip to fourth on the ladder, with Brunswick remaining on top.
The match was one of just three in the division to get a result, with four other matches unable to be finished because of rain.
The Lions are determined to return to the winners’ list this weekend against Preston, which sits 2-2.
Meanwhile, the Lions defeated Ringwood in the Women’s Victorian Premier Cricket seconds one-day competition.
The Lions made 9-109 and it proved to be enough, bowling Ringwood out for 89. Janelle Hayhurst took four wickets for the Lions.
