Melton Centrals let slip the opportunity to cement top spot in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association’s west A1 competition.
Centrals entered the weekend’s one- day matches just 0.01 points ahead of second-placed Seabrook with Grand United and Williamstown Imperials close behind.
Facing Grand United, Centrals could have put a gap on them. Instead they were left to rue a loss, with United moving to the top of the table.
Grand United managed a respectable 186, being dismissed on the second-last ball. Steven Robertson and Craig Street each took three wickets for Centrals, who, after cruising at 3-134, crashed to 164 in reply.
Speaking before the match, Centrals coach Adam Hulett said any of the top sides could win the competition, so every run and wicket would prove vital.
“Anyone can beat anyone on their day. There’s other good teams, so we don’t want to be complacent.”
Hulett said that for most of the season, his side had played consistently well. Even in tough situations it had found a way to win, notably in the previous match when it defended a modest 93 against Williamstown Imperials.
“We didn’t think we had enough runs on the board,” he said of that fixture.
“The batting conditions weren’t great, but it still took 35 overs for us to be bowled out.
“Then we got a few wickets in the first few overs … the bowlers got the job done.
“Besides that match, we’ve been batting well. Week to week, different people are stepping up.”
Hulett says he sees improvement on the way for second-placed Centrals.
The side, in its first season in VTCA, was adjusting to having to play on after the winning runs were scored in order to secure bonus points. In fact, bonus points will decide the top four.
“I don’t think we’ve hit our best yet,” he said.
“With a bit of luck, hopefully our best will come in finals.”
In other results, Melton South Primary School recorded its second win for the season, defeating Williamstown Congs by a single run. It’s the Royals’ first win on the field, their only other coming from a forfeit.
Royals made 120 and the Congs looked to be cruising at 2-91. Then the collapse started, the Congs losing 8-28 to be dismissed for 119. The last five wickets fell four runs.
In north A1, Sydenham/Hillside defeated local rival Caroline Springs, the Storm made 5-228 off its overs.
The Falcons were never close to getting the runs, finishing their overs at 8-131. The win leaves the Storm 3.24 points outside the top four.
