By Tara Murray
After a stuttering start to the season, Melton South Royals are enjoying a rich vein of good form in Victorian Turf Cricket Association Russell Pollock Shield division 5.
The Royals lost their first two games but have won two of the next three, and the third of those games looked like a win before it was washed out.
They will be hoping to add another win this week when they play out their game against top side Aberfeldie Park.
After day one, Royals captain Paul Hetherington said the match was evenly poised.
“It was a funny start,” he said. “It was pretty close all day and it’s still close.”
The Royals bowled Aberfeldie Park out for 188 in the 66th over.
James Robertson was the pick of the bowlers, taking five wickets.
The Royals, facing 11 overs before stumps, finished on 2-34.
“It’s a good wicket and we’re confident of getting the runs,” Hetherington said. “It would have been nice to be one less wicket down or no wickets down.”
Hetherington said they had been playing some good cricket in recent weeks and were confident that would continue in the second half of the Aberfeldie Park game.
“We got an outright against Flemington and we were pretty confident of getting the win against Gellibrand, but it was washed out,” he said.
“We would have jumped to third if we had have got that win. We’re also through to the T20 finals.”
Hetherington said the key so far this season had been a more even spread of contributors across the board.
Jonathon Caderamanpulle had been the vital batsman, but everyone was stepping up when needed.
“Jonathon is making runs every week, but everyone is pitching in,” Hetherington said.
“We’ve had one or two people stepping up when we really needed a partnership, which we haven’t been able to do in past years.”
The Royals other sides have also been showing some good form, with their seconds and fourths sitting on top of their ladders.
In other results, Melton Centrals is well on its way to victory against Bellbridge.
Centrals bowled Bellbridge out for 108, with Waduwidanalage Rangika and Hashan James taking four wickets each.
Centrals was 2-61 at stumps.
In Charles Clark Shield division 4, Sydenham-Hillside has claimed first-innings points against Caroline Springs.
Caroline Springs was bowled out for 100, with Sydenham-Hillside reaching the target just before stumps, finishing the day at 4-101.
The points are handy for the Storm, which is sitting outside the top four.
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