Melton South Royals are on the board in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association Roy Picone Shield.
Playing in the division 3 competition for the first time, the Royals needed to hold their nerve against Keilor Park on Saturday to get that first win in the books.
The match came down to the final over, with the Royals hitting the winning runs with three balls remaining.
Royals president Blake Ivory said it was nice to get a result on the board.
“It was excellent,” Ivory said. “I was a bit tense towards the end, but it was good to break the duck.
“It was massive for the club. We had Praveen De Silva leave us and had another batsmen get injured in the first game.
“Our batting has been a little thin at times in such an even competition. We’d had two losses against quality sides.”
On Saturday, the Royals travelled to play at Keilor Park for the first time.
The Devils made 171 as they were bowled out on the final ball.
Three players took two wickets each for the Royals.
Ivory said speaking to the players the ground was a small one with a good outfield, so the score was probably a little bit below par.
It was one they were confidence chasing.
“We didn’t want to lose wickets in clumps,” Ivory said. “We did lose quick wickets in the middle order.
“It meant we needed a run a ball off the last 10 overs.”
Saman Kumara Muthuwadige, who came in at number eight, stepped up for the Royals to guide the side home with number nine, Michael Yates and then number 10, Zaid Teeken.
The Royals finished 8-172 after being in trouble at 6-108.
Kumara Muthuwadige finished 37 not out off 34 balls to finish as the Royals highest scorer.
The Royals now face the Greenvale Kangaroos in the next round in another two-day match.
Ivory said they were keeping the focus pretty simple as they face opposition they haven’t played before.
“For the team to perform, we need to focus on us,” he said. “It will be another challenge this week against Greenvale.
“We take some confidence in, for sure.”
Caroline Springs’ hot start to the Roy Picone Shield season continued on Saturday against Pascoe Vale Hadfield.
The Falcons bowled the Panthers out for just 85 with Braedon Mulheran taking three wickets, while Roshan Laksiri and Salman Afridi taking two wickets each.
The Falcons top order wasted no time getting the runs, finishing 0-86 off 13.3 overs.
In senior division, Sydenham-Hillside suffered its first loss as St Albans got the job done to win its first match.
In the Russell Pollock Shield, Burnside Springs United was too good for Melton Centrals.
Centrals made 7-128 from its overs, which Burnside reached with ease, finishing 3-130. Mathieson King finished unbeaten on 48 for Burnside.
