Tara Murray
Melton is finally back on the winners list in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association.
After going through last season winless, the Lions needed just two matches this season to get the W in the record books in the east-west season.
On Saturday, the Lions put in a strong performance with both the bat and ball to account for Croydon.
For new playing coach Mitch Stephens the win was exactly what he and the playing group needed. The side’s last win was in January 2021.
“It was fantastic,” he said. “Some have seen so many losses in recent years, they needed a win.
“The boys needed that and it was the most important thing about winning. They needed that belief that they could do it.”
The Lions batted first on their home deck making 7-180 from their overs.
Jason Hibbert top scored with 61, while Joel Mitchener and Dylan Jobson put on 50 for the eighth wicket partnership.
Stephens said they were happy with that batting performance.
“We were confident and the momentum was on our side with the way we finished the innings,” he said.
“Mitchener, Jobson and even [Anthony] Hibbert the way they batted out the innings and used all our overs.
“Batting out our overs is one of our KPIs [key performance indicators] and we did that.”
Then with the ball, it was the Brad Jones show.
Jones was at his very best, taking 7-21 off nine overs as the Lions restricted Croydon to 161.
Stephens said it was great to see Jones in full flight.
“He’s a legend of the club and he showed what a great leader he is,” Stephens said. “Everyone gets around him when he’s playing like that.”
Stephens said there was plenty of excitement in the side after the first couple of weeks.
“We took a lot of positives from playing against Werribee in the first week,” he said.
“It’s the little things that will get you wins. It’s still early in the season and we’re taking it one week at a time and see how the season goes.”
The club’s fourth XI also got the points on Saturday and are sitting undefeated after the first two matches.
The second XI lost on Saturday, while the third XI didn’t get on the pitch.
Stephens said the fourth XI getting wins showed there was a bit of depth at the club, while the confidence was growing throughout the whole group.
The first XI will be in action on both Saturday and Sunday this weekend, in one-dayers against Altona and Spotswood.
Stephens said they are keen to see what they can do.
“It’s another opportunity to get two games of cricket,” he said. “It’s really positive around the group and they want to be playing games of cricket which is nice for the coaching group.”
