Tara Murray
Melton was given a bit of a reality check on the first day of its clash with Box Hill in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association east-west competition.
Coming off four straight wins, the Lions have shown their most consistent cricket in a number of seasons.
The Lions on Saturday though, showed there was still room for improvement, following an innings of two halves.
The Lions made 210, bowled out in the 70th over, having been well on top at 2-175. Ben MacRae scored a second straight 100, making 116, but outside the two openers no one got going.
Lions coach Mitch Stephens said while they were in a solid position, they were left disappointed by how the day finished.
One of the Lions main focuses this season has been to bat out their overs.
“It was a good day, but we were a bit disappointed with the afternoon,” he said.
“We batted really well in the early afternoon with Benny and Dilshan [Kanchana], who went up to the top of the order.
“We had a good strong partnership at the top and then we lost our way a bit towards the end.”
Stephens said the move of Kanchana to the top of the order was part of trying to find their best combinations.
He said Kanchana had opened the batting in red ball cricket before, while it allowed Conrad Farrigua the chance to find form in the middle order.
It’s something they will look at continuing.
Stephens said they would work with the group to try and make sure the lower order collapse doesn’t happen again.
“The feedback I got, we were looking for runs too much,” he said. “We had a bit more time than we thought at the back end of the day.
“We needed that composure and be happy with those extra 30 to 50 runs, then slogging our way to an extra 100 runs.
“The group will learn.”
Box Hill will resume at 0-5 having faced eight overs.
While disappointed, Stephens knows in past years they wouldn’t have 200 on the board at this stage,
He said they backed their bowling group in to get the wickets and continue their winning run.
It was a tough day for the rest of the Lions sides.
Meanwhile, the Lions under-15 side was knocked out in the quarter finals in the Craig Shield competition.
Playing Kew, it was Kew that got the upper hand, making 168. The Lions were bowled out for 78 in reply.
