Tara Murray
The Druids got a vital win in the race to avoid relegation in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division.
After falling to bottom after the last round with Craigieburn getting an outright win, the pressure was back on the Wizards to get at least one win in the run home.
It took just the first of the last three matches to move back off the bottom, with victory against Sunshine United on weekend.
Co-coach Andrew Brennan said it was a vital win for the side.
“It was a fantastic win for the club, it was one that we needed,” he said. “It’s very tight towards the bottom of the adder.
“We need another win or two to make sure that we avoid relegation.”
The Wizards batted first on a good pitch and managed to make 9-258 from their 80 overs.
Jarrod Parsons top scored with 50, while Charith Mendis and Asela Aluthge also made half centuries.
Brennan said the form of Parsons had been a big positive this season.
“On top of his excellent season with the ball, he made 60 for us on the weekend after making 46 the week before,” he said.
“He’s a three dimensional cricketer. He can bowl in the first 10 overs and then in the 70th over to finish the game off for us.
“He’s still in his early 20s and still has a lot of cricket ahead of him.”
Brennan said they thought that total was about par on the ground
The Wizards got on top early on, before the Tigers tail wagged. Eventually the Wizards bowled them out for 203.
Mendis was the pick of the bowlers, taking his first five wicket haul for the club, finishing with 6-74.
Brennan said there were a few nervous moments.
‘They are a very competitive side,” he said. “It got nervous towards the end of the game, they didn’t throw in the towel.
“There were a few thoughts that they were getting too close for comfort but we were able to take a couple of wickets.”
The Druids are now on 18 points equal with Sunshine United and two points clear of Craigieburn which has slipped to last again.
The Wizards face Westmeadows and Keilor in the final two rounds.
Brennan said they were hoping to get wins in both games to secure their future in the top grade.
He said while it hadn’t been the season they were after there had been some positives.
“We’re sitting lower than last year,” he said. “ We’ve had a couple of 17, 18-year-olds in Sam Hall and Lachlan Anderson get their start in the first XI.
“Hopefully they’ll play for us for a long time.”
In other matches, Yarraville Club moved into the top four with a win against Aberfeldie.
The Clubbers made 329 on day one of the match between third and fourth with Chinthaka Jayasinghe top scoring with 122.
The Clubbers then bowled Aberfeldie out for 151. Searching for an outright victory they sent Aberfeldie back in.
Aberfeldie was 2-73 when stumps were called.
