Williamstown was left pining for a game breaker in a 46-run road loss to Werribee in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association western derby at Chirnside Park on Saturday.
While the home side got significant output from stars Tim O’Brien (106no) and Heath Pritchard (5-38), the Seagulls were littered with promise but lacking in a player who could take the bull by the horns and drag them to victory.
The Seagulls were gallant in their run chase, reaching 192 on the second day.
At times, they made the Tigers’ imposing target of 239 appear attainable, but the lack of a player raising the bat – no one went on to reach 50 – would prove costly.
“There’s 106 out of 239 [by O’Brien] and five-for out of 10 wickets [by Pritchard] that need to be taken,” Werribee captain Shaun Dean told the Weekly.
“The two stand-out performers were the difference for us in the overall scheme of things.”
The Seagulls could have done without a slow start. They were 2-7 with both openers back in the pavilion and it put pressure on the middle order.
Craig Sheedy (29), Brenton Hodges (28) and Jonty Paulsen (33) breathed life into the chase, but each departed seemingly as if about to click into top gear.
A 68-run eighth-wicket partnership between Jordan Doyle (41) and Sam Davis (17) provided late hope for the Seagulls, but it was snuffed out in the worst possible way when Davis was run out with a direct hit from Tigers mid-wicket fielder Adam Alifraco.
The Seagulls are a hefty 10 points outside the top six and their finals chances seem all but over.
They will need to take maximum points when Sunshine travels to the Williamstown Cricket Ground for a two-day match starting on Saturday to have even a glimmer of hope when the final round arrives.
