YARRAVILLE Club is hunting the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division top two after notching its fourth straight win.
The defending champion Clubbers bridged the gap on second-placed St Bernard’s Old Collegians to just one point with a victory when the sides met in a one-day blockbuster at the Walker Oval on Saturday.
Clubbers captain Justin Baker was the catalyst to his team’s 12-run triumph with 61 in a successful run chase.
Earlier, after electing to bat, St Bernard’s powered to 4-164 off 40 overs.
The most successful Clubbers with the ball were change bowlers Michael O’Keefe and Matthew Boglis.
Boglis was the chief wicket taker with 3-34 off eight, but O’Keefe had the phenomenal figures of 1-2 off eight, including seven maidens.
The Clubbers would pass the total six down.
Baker, who has scored 489 at 54.3, found the boundary nine times and cleared the ropes once.
Mark Williams (21), Adam Contessa (22) and Andrew Cullen (35 not out) chipped in to erode the total.
Unbeaten since the first week of December, the Clubbers are priming for a tilt at the fifth consecutive flag.
Try as they might, Spotswood cannot get out of a slump that has had it winless since October.
The Woodsmen fell short by eight runs in a gallant run chase on the road against Beaumaris at Banksia Reserve.
Facing an imposing 185 for victory, the Woodsmen came close but couldn’t avoid a sixth loss and another week in the relegation zone.
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