Tara Murray
Melton South Royals secured a finals spot and sent a message to the rest of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association division 5 competition on Saturday.
The Royals were able to hold their nerve against ladder leaders East Coburg to come away with an important win in the context of the season.
Royals captain-coach Dean Pirro was thrilled with the result.
“It was awesome,” he said. “They have a really good batting line and we knew that from the start, We had the runs on the board.
“It was wonderful how it worked out.”
The Royals had made 230 on day one of the match, bowled out with 2.2 overs remaining.
East Coburg started well and were at 0-60. The wickets started to fall in frequent patches.
They would pass 200 with two wickets still in hand and plenty of time.
The Royals were able to get the last two wickets to bowl East Coburg out for 205.
Thiwanka Kekulawala finished with four wickets for the Royals.
Pirro said there were some nervous moments at times.
“They had a couple of key partnerships and it was looking like it would be really tight,” he said.
“We were able to fight it out to the end.”
The win has the Royals in third position with one round remaining, equal on points with the two teams above them.
Now 11 points ahead of fifth placed Sunshine YCW, the Royals are guaranteed of playing finals.
Pirro said making finals was the aim every season.
He said overall it had been a good season so far.
“I couldn’t be happier with the group,” he said.
“We’ve been pretty consistent throughout. We have dropped a few close games, which we should not have lost.
“We feel we’ve been competitive in every game.”
Pirro said while a win against the top side was massive for the group’s confidence, it meant little come finals time.
“We are just taking each step as it comes.”
The Royals finish the regular season against Burnside Springs. Pirro said it was a side that they had to be wary of.
Pirro said it had been an exciting season across the club, with three of their four sides set to play finals.
Meanwhile, Burnside had a good win on Saturday beating Donnybrook in an reverse outright result.
Donnybrook made 182 before bowling Burnside out for just 95. Andrew Fraser played a lone hand, making 49.
Donnybrook made 4-42 off 6.2 overs before declaring and sending Burnside back in.
A better batting performance resulted in Burnside finishing 5-132 to claim the reverse outright result.
Melton Centrals kept its finals hopes alive with a win against Sanctuary Lakes.
Centrals made 266 on day one, before restricting the Sharks to 195.
Wayne Haffenden took 5-49.
Centrals sit four points behind the fourth-placed Sharks and fifth-placed Sunshine YCW heading into the final round.
