Melton Centrals is hoping its first win of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association season is just around the corner.
Normally among the contenders in whichever competition they are in, a win-less start to the season is uncommon for the side.
Centrals captain-coach Adam Hulett said losing the first four games of the west A1 competition season wasn’t ideal.
“A couple of games have been close and they haven’t gone our way,” he said.
“If they go our way, our season looks very different. Those games have got away from us late and sometimes that’s life.”
Hulett said it was just moments in games that were hurting them and leaving them unable to put the pressure back on the opposition.
“It’s not that we’re not working hard, things are just not working at the moment,” he said. “We lose two or three wickets at a time and you can’t afford to do that against some of the better bowling attacks.
“It’s something every team works on at training, trying to stop that happening.”
On Saturday, Centrals were left to rue a poor start to day two against Williamstown Congs.
The Congs resumed at 5-166 after rain ended play on day one early. They quickly piled on the runs and finished 7-235.
It was a few too many runs for Centrals’ liking. Centrals were bowled out for 168 with nearly six overs to spare.
Despite Centrals being win-less and sitting second bottom, Hulett said finals isn’t out of the question.
“Once we get that first win and get the ball rolling, we’ll be right,” he said.
Centrals faces Williamstown Colts on Saturday on day one of their two-dayer. While all other sides have to play a rescheduled one-dayer on Sunday, Centrals has a bye.
In other games, Melton South Royals lost to Grand United.
In a one-day match due to day one being washed out, the Royals made 8-177 from their overs with Skipper Paul Hetherington leading the way. He fell just short of a century, with time beating him as he finished 94 not out.
United needed every one of its 40 overs, making 7-178, with the winning runs hit in the final over.
In north A1, Sydenham-Hillside got an outright win against Barkley Street United. Restricting struggling United to 92, the Sharks made 5-236 with the bat. They bowled United out for 82 in their second innings.
Caroline Springs got its second win of the season, defeating Aberfeldie Park.
