Laverton undertook a painstaking operation to return to relevance in its battle with West Coburg in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association north division at Morris Reserve on Saturday, falling short by a wicket in a bold comeback attempt.
The Magpies displayed tremendous fight on the second day but would ultimately pay the price for a shocking first innings batting effort, losing outright.
“It was a close game. It turned out to be a great game,” Magpies wicketkeeper Mark Logan said.
“We backed ourselves to set them a [second innings] target, but we were probably 20 or 30 runs shy … we almost got there.”
Ashley Hulme has the right to feel dudded by his team-mates, making 31 of his side’s embarrassing first-innings total of 67.
The Magpies were down, but certainly not out. The bowlers picked up the slack, sending Wests to stumps at 9-99, at which time the declaration came.
Trailing by 32 on first innings, the Magpies set out to build a lead in excess of 100, but didn’t hit the mark.
After another batting letdown, the bowlers helped create a thrilling finish. Shaun Delaney (4-8), Jimmy Baker (3-20) and Mark Keenan (2-10) were superb with the ball.
A turning point in the innings, and perhaps the straw that broke the Magpies’ back, was a rare five-run penalty after the ball trickled into a helmet, reserved for bat-pad, that lay behind the wicketkeeper.
“We had 20 runs in the bag at that stage and to give them an extra five it was like, oh no!,” Logan said. “Over 30-odd years I’ve never seen that happen in a game I’ve played in.”
The Magpies, in their second season in the VTCA’s second tier, have a 1-2 record after three matches.
