By Tara Murray
Melton started the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association east-west season with a solid win against Hoppers Crossing on Saturday.
Needing to have a strong day with the bat, the Lions were able to produce the performance needed.
Hoppers Crossing started the day with 13 overs still to face.
The Lions thought they would be chasing 200-plus, but got the job done quickly.
They needed less than six overs to bowl Hoppers Crossing out for 187 and were able to limit the damage to just 10 extra runs added to the day one score.
Skipper Brad Jones, who took one wicket on Saturday, finished with three wickets for the game. All but one bowler got a wicket.
It looked like a tough ask for the Lions, when they lost 5-18 to slip to 6-75.
PHOTO GALLERY: Hoppers Crossing vs MeltonÂ
However, a partnership between Matthew Stead and Dilshan Kanchana proved to be a match-winning one.
The Lions didn’t loss another wicket, finishing 6-190.
Kanchana, in his first game for Melton, top scored with 58 not out, while Stead finished 56 not out.
Ben MacRae produced a handy 32 early in the innings.
The Lions play their first home match of the season this week, facing Waverley in a two-dayer.
