Yarraville Club is cooking up a minor premiership in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association’s senior division.
The Clubbers batsmen combined with the Melbourne heatwave to make life hell for Hoppers Crossing at Hansen Reserve on Saturday.
Anthony Cristofaro (62), Aaron Mato (60) and Johnathon Blake (55) all contributed to the Clubbers’ ultra-competitive 8-275 off 80 overs.
Hoppers Crossing has a strong batting unit, but it will need to post its biggest score of the summer to win, meaning the Clubbers can be considered a strong favourite heading into the second day.
In north division, Spotswood would need a miracle for it to reach the finals.
The Woodsmen are highly unlikely to bridge the six-point gap on fourth-placed West Coburg. They needed an outright result or a heavy loss for Wests to have a sniff, and neither appears likely with a day remaining. The Woodsmen will struggle to take care of their own end of the bargain after being set 266 for victory against relegation-threatened Sunshine Druids.
Jeremy Brown worked hard for the Woodsmen with 4-33 off 14.4, while Andrew Butler snared 3-56 from 15.
The wheels have fallen off for Laverton, losing on first innings to Seddon inside a day.
The Magpies couldn’t handle the bowling of Seddon opener Tharindu Weerasinghe, who took 5-30 to have them all out for 99.
Seddon passed the target eight down after crucial late runs from Mark Webb (29no).
Altona North, fighting for survival, posted a defendable 9-207 against premiership contenders Keilor Park.
In west A1, it was a horrible day for Footscray United, who took to social media to howl down the pitch prepared by home club Werribee Centrals. The Bulldogs, sitting fifth and with a finals berth on the line, were bowled out for just 60 in 30.3 overs, largely blaming the “soft, watered pitch” for its batting demise.
Centrals passed the first innings target two down and have built an 81-run lead with six wickets in hand.
St Andrew’s Footscray is heading to the finals after beating Newport-Digman convincingly on first innings. The Saints used only two bowlers in the heat to rout the visitors for 66 with Sam Crea (5-17) and Mathew Pipczak (4-43) getting the job done in the blink of an eye. Pipczak is the top bowler in the competition with 37 wickets at a measly 8.6. The Saints are 8-185 in reply.
Williamstown CYMS is on track to take top spot off Sunshine United. CYs bowled United out for just 107 and are 2-26 in reply.
