A twitchy Williamstown held on to edge out Mount Waverley by four runs in a Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association thriller at the Williamstown Cricket Ground on Saturday.
The Seagulls had the game in hand for the most part until some lusty last-over hitting from Mount Waverley tailender Roy Paterson made it a close finish.
Seagull captain Craig Sheedy admitted his pulse was racing until change bowler Nathan Bratby found a way out of trouble with well-executed yorkers for the last two deliveries of the 80th and final over.
“They needed about 25 off the last over and got about 20,” Sheedy said. “I was having a bloody heart attack, but it worked out in the end.”
Bratby was the key to the Seagulls’ win.
The all-rounder backed up his 30 runs on day one to take 5-35 off six overs, including the prized scalps of Myles Harry (60) and Dhugal Bedingfield (67).
Bratby’s hard work was almost brought undone by Paterson’s late flurry of big hits, but he stayed calm in the face of adversity.
“The big fella came in and teed off on him in the last over, but the last two balls Nathan went back to bowling it really well – yorkers into the feet,” Sheedy said.
“On slow and low wickets, he changes his pace well and makes it really difficult to score.”
Mount Waverley fell short to be 8-235 when stumps were drawn.
It was one of the Seagulls’ most complete performances of the season. The victory can be traced to the first day when they recovered from 4-65 on a tough wicket to make 9-239.
Young guns Nathan Hall (50) and Jonty Paulsen (44) blossomed in the middle order.
“We had six blokes who really contributed well with the bat, which we haven’t had for the whole year,” Sheedy said.
“When we were 4-60, I thought, oh, we’re gone for 100 here … but guys just got stuck in on a really ordinary wicket and took the game on.
“We have a bit of a policy about having no fear of getting out, and they didn’t.”
The Seagulls have won three of their past four matches to be a sneaky chance of a finals berth.
They are 10 points outside the top six and would need to win their last three matches and hope other results go their way.
Elsewhere, Yarraville (8-181) remains second-last after coming up short at Noble Park (5-213).
Altona’s (215) place in the top six is under threat after a loss to finals chaser Box Hill (3-285).
