Melton needs a quick change of fortune if it is to play any part in the Victorian Sub-district Cricket Association’s east-west finals.
The Lions were cruising along before Christmas, sitting third on the ladder, but similar form has evaded them so far this year.
The Lions have lost their past three games, the most recent on Saturday to Croydon.
Needing 338 for victory, the Lions were never in the game, finishing 9-215.
Lions playing coach Nathan Geisler said things hadn’t gone to plan in the run chase, with the side in trouble at 6-65.
“The aim was to try and have as many wickets as possible in the shed at tea time,” he said. “Then we would look at going five runs an over from there.
“At tea we were a long shot, so the aim was to take it as deep as possible and try and bat out the overs.
“It gave Ash Sweet and Jake Thornton-Gielen a good chance to have a bat. Hopefully, they can take that into next week against Yarraville.
Thornton-Gielen fell for 43 and just before the end of the day Sweet was caught for 94.
The loss means the Lions sit outside the top six, two points behind sixth-placed Taylors Lakes.
Geisler maintains things need to change if the Lions want to remain in finals contention. He said he’d talk to players during the week about how to turn things around.
“After Christmas, we’ve been terrible,” he said. “Our batting hasn’t been up to scratch and our bowling was disappointing last week.
“We’ve wasted a bit of an opportunity. We were in a good position before Christmas.
“I spoke to them after the game and said we need to pull our fingers out.
“We need to change things up, otherwise we’re going to keep getting the same results.”
The Lions’ challenge to make finals will not get any easier in the clash with Yarraville.
“We’re not out of it,” Geisler said. “It’s a pretty even competition.
“We play Yarraville and then we play Williamstown and Balwyn, who are one and two on the ladder.
“If we make finals, we’ll know we’ve earnt it.”
