WILLIAMSTOWN Imperials notched their first win of the summer over new chums Melton South in Williamstown and District Cricket Association A1 turf.
The Imps admitted to knowing little about their newly promoted opponents so were focused on their own output and hoping it would be enough to get the job done.
They won on first innings by 53 runs but missed out on the outright due to time running out at Saturday’s conclusion at Fearon Reserve.
“We didn’t know much about this mob,” Imps top-order batsman Daniel Slattery said. “They come up from B grade and it’s always a bit of the unknown when you come up against a new side. It was good to get a win.”
South didn’t handle its introduction to the top flight well. Sent in on day one, it perished for just 93.
Imps medium-pacer Andrew Mercaldi, a recruit from Spotswood, tore through the lineup to take 5-13.
The Imps passed the total in a quickfire fashion in a bid to fight for an outright. They reached 6-146 in 35 overs on the back of solid knocks from captain Glen Robson (49) and import Jack Haines (43).
The declaration came early on day two with the Imps leading by 53.
Whatever chance they had of claiming maximum points was snuffed out by a better South batting effort in their second dig.
The visitors rustled up 128, but, more importantly, chewed up 80 overs in the process.
Rohan Hilson did his utmost to help the Imps’ cause with a remarkable 5-12 off 14 overs, but South’s defences were too good second time around.
WDCA RESULTS
A1 turf
West Newport 223 (CJ Irving 57 N Jensen 50 P Hick 43) d Wyndhamvale 130 (CW Irving 5-44 N Jones 2-11 CJ Irving 2-42) and 5-176; Williamstown Colts 116 (MS Farook 5-32 J Perry 2-10) and 4-111 v Newport-Digman 68 (T Sangha 3-9); Williamstown Imperials 6-146dec (G Robson 49 J Haines 43) and 2-28 d Melton South 93 (A Mercaldi 5-13 A Fortini 2-15 J Roberts 2-29) and 128 (R Hilson 5-12 J Haines 2-12 J Roberts 2-35); Gellibrand 101 (G Sharma 38 N Keating 25) lt Grand United 8-117 (M Keating 4-39 J Haupt 3-40).
B1 turf
Deer Park Ardeer 136 d West Newport 33 and 8-67; Williamstown Congs 70 (B Mifsud 27no) and 9-62 lt Bellbridge 9-173dec (S Brown 5-45 R Normington 2-12 S Dyson 2-34); St. Johns 70 (M Craig 6-29 P Hudson 3-28) lt Williamstown Imperials 85 (M Whiting 25) and 3-114 (C Pettigrew 61 A Royston 29).
