By Tara Murray
Melton got a reprieve in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association T20 competition despite losing in heartbreaking circumstances.
Playing St Bernard’s OC, both teams finished equal on runs after their 20 overs, and a ‘bowl-off’ was required to decide who would move through to the quarter-finals.
The Snowdogs came out on top but the Lions were the lucky loser of the round and also moved in to the quarter finals.
Earlier, Melton won the toss and sent the Snowdogs in at St Bernard’s.
They had them bowled out for 112 in the final over.
Brad Jones, Adrian Monittio and Heath Fleetwood took two wickets each for the Lions.
The Lions’ run chase started off poorly, but at 3-71 Melton looked in control.
The loss of a few wickets brought the Snowdogs back into the game.
The Lions were 8-101, still needing 13 runs for victory.
It came down to the final ball, with the Lions needing four runs for the win.
They got three runs on an overthrow to tie the game, leaving the match to be decided with a ‘bowl-off’, where five players bowl at the unguarded stumps, claiming one point for hitting them.
It was one-all after the first round of five players had a shot at the stumps.
Luke Davis then hit the stumps for the Snowdogs, while the Lions missed, giving the Snowdogs the win.
Endeavour Hills, Mt Waverley, Elsternwick, Hoppers Crossing, Caulfield and Coburg are the other quarter finalists.
Meanwhile, Melton made it two wins in a row in the east-west competition, beating Williamstown on Saturday.
Defending 6-269, the Lions were able to bowl Williamstown out for 256 in the fourth last over.
The Seagulls lost their last five wickets for 27 runs.
Dilshan Kanchana took three wickets for the Lions.
The win moves the Lions up to eighth on the ladder, three points outside the top six.
