It may have been the grand final re-match, but Melton were a long way off the championship side of last season when they took on Werribee at the weekend.
After losing the toss and being sent in to bat, Melton fell victim to some strong Werribee bowling, slumping to just 123 in the 68th over.
Werribee made the most of their chance of revenge, moving to 1-57 by stumps to take a firm grip on the contest.
John Varchione and Matthew Stead got Melton off to a strong start. Varchione dominated the opening stand of 23 before Stead departed for four. Varchione continued to monopolise the scoring, and when he fell for 35 Melton was 2-39.
Anthony Gale and Alan Steenholdt set about rebuilding the innings and with both gaining some momentum the match began to turn in Melton’s favour.
But it was short lived.
Gale was the first to go for just 15, before skipper Nathan Giesler (8), Steenholdt (18), and Nathan Allen all fell in quick succession to have Melton on the backfoot at 5-89.
From there the Werribee bowlers were ruthless, Jonathon Burton the pick of them with three late-order wickets.
Paul Halfhide (11) was the only other Melton batsman to reach double figures as Burton (3-31) cleaned up the tail to set the visitors a low total – reversing last season’s grand final result.
Werribee had just 15 overs to face late in the day, but they made every one of them count as David Wolfe put the Melton attack to the sword. His 46 not out formed the backbone of the visitors’ reply, and by the time stumps arrived they were almost halfway to their target.
