MELTON is a club at the peak of its powers after winning three of four Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association grand finals and nearly sweeping every trophy on offer at the weekend.
The Lions’ first XI defeated Kew by three wickets to go back-to-back for the first time and add the top prize to its Twenty20 title in a near-perfect season.
Only the club fourth XI finished a runner-up in what was a dominant season for the Melton club.
Kew set Melton 230 for victory at MacPherson Park on Saturday after riding out a mid-innings slump to reach its 80 overs with one wicket in hand.
Melton also wobbled with a 3-15 collapse in the middle order but steadied the ship to reach 7-232 with 14 balls to spare.
“We knew if we batted the 80 overs we’d win the game,” captain Mick Allen said.
“That’s the way we approached it and that was the way it panned out.
“It’s a good wicket that doesn’t crumble and plays the same from ball one to the end.”
Kew’s Tim Sheehan scored 59 at the top of the order, but his dismissal at 3-90 sparked a 3-10 slump to leave Kew 5-100.
Nick Sharp (49) and Kew captain Francis Gill (39) arrested the slump with a 67-run stand for the third wicket to get the innings back on track.
“It’s one of those things when the ball gets older and the wicket is still pretty good,” Allen said.
“We could have fielded better. We probably cost ourselves 10-15 runs.”
Kew had four batsmen get past 30 but only one make a half-century.
Allen said that strangling the run rate was the key to not letting any of the individuals manage to go on to a big score.
“We set that 7-2 field and kept it tight, set our standards, and good bowlers are going to bowl the same area.”
Melton never let the run rate slide past four an over, but it did wobble after Allen went for 41 as it lost 3-15.
Nathan Geisler (58) and Shane Harwood (36) came together at 4-75 and put on 89 for the fifth wicket, while Nick Allen (15 not out) and coach Duncan Harrison (32 not out) steered the innings home.
“Kew were up and about, but we knew we had to bat the time,” Allen said.
“It was good partnerships that won us the game.
“It’s the first time the club has gone back-to-back. Everyone gave 100 per cent, and winning becomes a part of the culture at the club.”
VSDCA North-West first XI
Kew 9-230 (T Sheehan 59, N Sharp 49, D Harrison 2-28, J Wheelahan 2-41, N Geisler 2-53) lt Melton 7-232 (N Geisler 58, M Allen 41, S Harwood 36, D Harrison 32, F Gill 5-73)
