Tara Murray
Melton showed its maturity as it bounced back for its first loss of 2023 with a strong performance against Balwyn in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association east-west on Saturday.
The Lions produced one of the better all round performances on day one against Balwyn to be well on top.
Lions coach Mitch Stephens said how the group had bounced back after a poor weekend, showed how far they had come this season.
The Lions sit in ninth spot heading into the second last round, but only one game outside the top six.
“The confidence has grown in the group,” he said. “From where we have come from the last few years to be in games and our season still alive which is great.
“We know that there is still some work to be done to get into finals. We need to win the last two matches and hope results go our way.
“We need to get through this game first.”
The Lions won the toss against Balwyn and decided to ball with a pretty green wicket. Stephens said it takes a lot of captain Ben MacRae to bowl first, preferring to get out there with the bat.
It proved to be the right one with Balwyn bowled out for 145.
Joshua Luca, Brad Jones and Stephen Wiig took three wickets each for the Lions.
Stephens said they would have taken that score at the start of the day. He said the key was to win the first hour of play, which they did.
“We did let it slip a little as we had then 7-80 odd,” he said. “They had some late wicket partnerships and kept us in the field a little bit longer.
“We stuck to the plan and didn’t let them get away and get over 200.”
The Lions then had to face 17 overs at the end of day one. Dilshan Kanchana made a quick fire 10 before being caught.
MacRae and Jason Hibbert steadied, with the Lions 1-48. Stephens said it capped off a strong all round performance from the group, one of their best days of the season.
Hibbert will resume on 29 not out, while MacRae, the form batter of the competition, will resume at eight not out.
Stephens said it had been a hard wicket to get in on.
“To not lose too many wickets was the aim,” he said. “The first step [on day two] is to get 146 and bank the six points.
“We’ll then have a look at an outright if the game suits that.”
Stephens said their second XI struggled on Saturday after a couple of late outs, while their third XI made 190 after a good fightback.
Chris Hope made a 124 not out for the fourth XI.
In other east-west matches, Werribee has already claimed first innings points against Donvale, Spotswood is on top against Altona, Hoppers Crossing made 224 against Croydon and Williamstwon made 7-260 against Taylors Lakes.
