A FINAL session batting collapse has robbed Altona North of a grand final berth in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association’s North Division.
A good first day’s play saw the visitors reduce Tullamarine to 157 in almost 76 overs, however Sunday’s run-chase only lasted 58 overs, and ultimately fell 36 runs short.
Club president and batsman Greg Frydas was understandably disappointed hours after the result.
“It was pretty devastating because we certainly thought we should have made that score and we certainly thought we were good enough,” Frydas said.
“But unfortunately you have your good days and your bad days, and today was a bad day with the bat.”
The chase was off to a promising start and looked to be on track as 3/73 became 4/88 by the tea break.
However when players resumed the field, Altona North’s quest for the remaining runs capitulated and was halted at 122.
“We were going along pretty well (at tea) and we still had 42 overs to go, but then they made a couple of bowling changes,” Frydas explained.
“We lost a couple of quick wickets and then we consolidated for a bit and then lost another couple of quick wickets before getting bowled out for that total.”
Frydas said Altona North’s confidence ahead of the run-chase was high considering the lack of bowling depth in the Tullamarine line-up, however on Sunday the target proved to be harder than it looked.“We just knew we had to bat and play each ball on its merits and basically we felt that if we batted the best we could and batted with patience and application then it wouldn’t have been an issue getting 158,” Frydas said of the day two mentality.
“They haven’t got a strong bowling attack and we’ve made over 220 a number of times this year against better bowling attacks than they had, so we were certainly confident we’d get the runs pretty easily.”
Even losing quick wickets through the middle order didn’t seem to deter the visitors.
“A couple of times throughout the year we had lost a couple of quick wickets and put ourselves behind the eight ball but the lower order had got us through a lot of times,” Frydas said.
“We thought we had the batting to get through it but unfortunately today it wasn’t to be.”
