By Tara Murray
An improved performance wasn’t enough for Melton as it went down to Taylors Lakes in the final over in their Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association east-west clash.
With just one win this season, Melton was hoping to get back on track and while it put in a better performance with the bat it wasn’t enough.
Taylors Lakes got the job done on the final ball of the innings.
Melton director of coaching Anthony Gale said there was definitely some better signs.
“We were close but no cigar,” he said.
“Our batting was much improved with a lot more starts. The bottom half did a lot of the scoring.
“In one-day cricket you can look at a couple of little things, it’s a fine line.”
Melton won the toss and elected to bat on a good batting deck. It started well and was cruising at 2-90.
PHOTO GALLERY: Melton vs Taylors Lakes
The Lions then lost frequent wickets and were eventually restricted to 8-202. Gale said there was some good signs in the innings.
“Ben MacRae and Nathan Taylor both got starts, which was good,” he said.
“But they couldn’t go on.
“We needed one of those two to go on. You get one of those guys to at least 70, it makes a difference.
“No one in the top four were there throughout most of the innings. You get 240 to 250, you are likely to win most games.
“The bottom half did a lot of the scoring. I don’t think it was a polished innings.”
Skipper Brad Jones top scored with 46, while Dilshan Kanchana finished 41 not out.
Gale said in an ideal world, Jones would be making those runs to push the total beyond 250, not trying to get the side out of trouble.
Melton kept the pressure on Taylors Lakes throughout and it wasn’t until a late partnership they got across the line.
“They got it eight down and the last two batters did a good job,” Gale said. “They needed 22 off 24 balls and then got it down to five runs off the last over. “We got a run out and they needed two runs off two balls.”
The loss leaves Melton with just one win after five rounds.
Gale knows that their season is hanging by a thread with the side sitting in 12th position.
The competition is close though, as they sit just one game outside the top six.
Gale said if they can continue the good signs they showed on Saturday and continue to improve they could turn things around.
“If we string three or four games together, you get momentum. [But] We only have one win, so it seems a long way away.”
It was a weekend of thrillers for Melton. Its second XI won in the second last over against Taylors Lakes.
Jason Hibbert steered them home with a half century.
Gale said if Hibbert continued to put runs on the board, he might put pressure on those in the top side. The third XI also lost in the final over.
