Melton Centrals Cricket Club is a game clear on top of the ladder after a convincing win against Caroline Springs in Williamstown and District Cricket Association A-Turf.
In the first weekend back after Christmas, with rain having forced cancellation of play the weekend before, the Centrals team was a little rusty at the start.
Picture gallery: Melton Centrals v Caroline Springs
Coach Adam Hulett said his players took a while to get going.
“We didn’t get off to the greatest of starts,” Hulett said. “Once our first-change bowlers came on and got a couple of wickets, Caroline Springs never got back into the game.”
The Centrals shared the wickets around, restricting Springs to 7-117.
“We chased down the total, losing just three wickets in 30 overs; we did it easily,” Hulett said.
“Josh Orr made 30-odd, opening the batting, and Andrew Cristofaro ended up 45-odd not out.
“[Springs] got off to a good start with the bat, but once we roped them in we controlled the rest of the game.”
Hulett said he was happy to start the season’s second half with a win.
“With other results going our way, we’re now a game clear on top of the ladder.
“The aim is to finish top two and get a home final.“
At the start of the season we wanted to finish top four, but we’ve clicked better than we thought we would.”
Hulett said having a regular line-up the last few years had brought about part of the improvement.
“We’ve been a work in progress, with seven or eight core blokes, and we’ve had other people fill in the blanks.
“This year we’ve been pretty consistent,” he said.
“We were missing a couple this week, but our depth has been pretty good. We have 12 to 13 people who can fill the 11 spots.”
This week, Centrals play Gellibrand,
“We beat them easily earlier in the year in a one-dayer,” Hulett said. “A two-dayer is a different story.”
Melton South Primary School lost to Williamstown Congs. After bowling well to despatch the Congs for 128, Melton South could manage only 85 in reply.
Daniel Jackson took four wickets for Melton South.
