Altona got an important win in the context of its season and the finals race in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association east-west.
The A’s were in action against Hoppers Crossing, another side keen to lock in a finals spot.
After a poor start to both days, the A’s were able to come away with an important six points.
“It was an excellent win, we are very excited,” coach Liam Keating said.
“Hoppers Crossing is really good at their home ground and made it a fortress, we knew it would be a competitive, tough game.”
The A’s decided to bat on Saturday and early on it looked to be the wrong decision.
They were in trouble at 5-15.
“Adam Yates and Matt Turcinovich then put on 130 to push us to a real competitive total,” Keating said
“The experience of Adam to bat with Matt, who won our batting average last year.
“He was scoring freely and allowed Matt to take him time.”
Altona was bowled out for 221 late on day one of the match.
Turcinovich made 110 off 199 balls to be there until late in the day.
It was a special innings for Turcinovich, whose grandmother died in the week in the lead up to the game.
Yates finished with 64.
The A’s also got off to a slow start on Sunday.
The Cats were cruising at 0-51.
“The first half of both Saturday and Sunday was not great for us,” Keating said
“Hoppers scored really quickly and were 1-110 and looked promising.”
Keating said captain James Grubb put into place some really good bowling changes and things started to turn their way.
Daniel Mackenzie got 3-4 off five overs in that time.
The A’s were able to bowl the Cats out for 162.
Callum Hands finished with 5-32 off 10 overs.
With two rounds remaining, the A’s sit in third spot and are now 16 points of Taylors Lakes in seventh.
Keating said performances like the weekend would only help the group even more.
“For the club to be in games like those, there’s a lot of belief,” he said.
“We’ve played a lot of cricket together.
“It’s so tight and we could have finished the round anywhere from first to sixth.
“This gives us some breathing space.”
The A’s face Donvale in the next match, the last of the two-dayers.
Keating said the bottom team had nothing to lose and they had to remain switched on.
In other matches, Spotswood had a big win against Taylors Lakes.
The Woodsmen made 8-285 from their overs before bowling the Lions out for 192.
The Woodsmen sit fourth on the ladder.
Williamstown overcame a late collapse to beat Melton.
Chasing 141, the Seagulls snuck home to finish 8-143.
Yarraville suffered a big loss to Werribee.
Chasing 308 the Eagles were bowled out for 152 in reply.
