Melton has suffered another nailbiting loss, its one-wicket defeat at Box Hill dropping the Lions further down the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association east-west first XI ladder.
While the opposition’s last-wicket partnership was only four runs – unlike the 56-run miracle stand by Bayswater two weeks earlier – it was still another near miss for the luckless Lions.
Melton (10th, nine points) is six points below sixth-placed Yarraville (15) after Saturday’s 9-143 to 7-140 defeat.
Melton struggled to build partnerships at Box Hill as it stuttered to 7-99.
But Chris Hope (16no) and Jesse Merlo (28no) produced a 41-run stand to push Melton to the 45th over with a competitive score.
Box Hill reached 3-115 before Jeremy Liddy (3-3) changed the game with quick wickets in a collapse of 5-8.
Andrew (11no) and Tim Blake (8) then stopped the wickets with a partnership to take Box Hill to 137.
Nathan Allen trapped Tim lbw to leave Melton needing a wicket with two runs to defend.
But No.11 Brendan King survived with Andrew Blake to pinch the win from the second ball of the final over.
Melton returns to MacPherson Park to host Altona in a two-dayer starting this Saturday.
