Melton’s Brad Jones is making a habit of hitting the winning runs.
Better known as a bowler, Jones has been the hero late in the innings for Melton in the past two weeks in Victorian Sub-district Cricket Association north-west.
After he steadied the side and hit the winning runs against Werribee in their two-day clash the previous week, on Saturday he went one better in the Lions’ T20 clash against Taylors Lakes.
Melton needed eight runs off the final over with Jones and Matthew Stead at the crease.
After five good deliveries from Yoshan Kumara, the Lions needed three to win off the final ball.
Melton coach Nathan Geisler said that while there was some nerves in the shed, there was also confidence that Jones could get the job done.
“The bowler tried to bowl a slower ball and it came out as a full toss,” Geisler said. “Jones hit it for six to get the win.
“He’s been really good with the ball and he’s also contributing with the bat.
“We’ve had many a conversation about him wanting to try to improve his batting and get up the batting order.”
Melton finished 7-111 in reply to Taylors Lakes’ 6-107.
Ash Sweet was the pick of the Melton bowlers taking two wickets, while Nathan Taylor top-scored with 36 and Jake Thornton-Gielen made 25.
Geisler, who played his first game of the season, said Taylor and Thornton-Gielen were forming a good partnership.
“They have been good the last two weeks,” he said.
“They’ve batted smartly and got us in positions to finish off chases.”
The win keeps Melton undefeated after three rounds. With a poor T20 record in the past two years, this victory is a boost.
“For 35 overs we were really in control,” Geisler said.
“The last five overs we lost our way a bit. T20 can be tricky, especially coming from two-day cricket the previous round. We’ll bank the win and look forward.”
Melton is one of three teams with a perfect record. The other two are Williamstown and this week’s Melton opponent, Brunswick.
After the T20 round, the competition reverts to the two-day format.
Geisler said the coming round would give the side a chance to test where it is at.
“They will be one of the teams we’ll be trying to beat come finals time,” he said of Brunswick.
“We’re in a good position and we still haven’t played our best cricket.
“Against Kew we batted well, but didn’t bowl well. Against Werribee, we bowled well, but didn’t bat well.
“Yesterday, we bowled well but we lost our way with the bat. It’s a good time to play against Brunswick.”
The Melton women’s side had the weekend off.
