A monster 154-run partnership from Noble Park’s Dean Edmunds and Mevan Fernando has denied Melton back-to-back Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association first XI wins – a season landmark it was set upon reaching.
Melton went into the second day of its clash with Noble Park in the box seat after posting 236 last week, but the Edmunds-Fernando partnership took the game away from the hosts as Noble Park ran away with a five-wicket win in the 77th over.
The game typified much of Melton’s season, with the Lions getting off to a good start before slipping further behind as the game progressed. Noble Park lost two early wickets when Ben Edmunds (11) and Monto Perera (2) departed to leave the visitors at 2-28.
When Jake Charge joined the attack to remove Johan Vorster (10), Noble Park was in trouble at 3-51.
But that brought Fernando to the crease to join his skipper and together the pair batted Melton out of the game. Both men passed 50 and Edmunds powered on to his century before falling soon after to Paul Halfhide. Fernando almost got his side over the line but fell for 81, but by then the damage had been done. Halfhide was superb in collecting 2-37, while Nathan Allen sent down 21 overs for 1-61.
The loss means Melton goes into this weekend’s final match against Croydon needing a win to be any chance of avoiding the wooden spoon –12 months after winning back-to-back premierships.
