By ADEM SARICAOGLU
HOPPERS Crossing is now facing an uphill battle to make the finals in Senior Division Turf Cricket after falling to loss number four for the summer on Saturday.
The odds were stacked up against the Cats coming into their first one-day clash of the New Year away to Greenvale, and by game’s end the host showed just why it sits on top of the table at 6-1.
Choosing to bat first at Greenvale Recreation Reserve, the Jets managed to slowly wrestle control of the game away from Hoppers Crossing, recovering from 2/8 and then 3/14 to get to 4/64 with Jeremy Brown (70 not out) and skipper Jon Kent (17) in the middle.
From there the wickets dried up for Hoppers Crossing as Greenvale’s middle order took charge, reaching 6/165 by the end of its 40-over dig.
In response the Cats could never get going and had no answer Brown, who followed up his brilliant batting performance with four wickets and two maidens.
Hoppers Crossing struggled for decent runs and failed to ever get going in its chase, ultimately falling for just 116 in 34 overs.
The Cats remain eighth on the table and will face St Bernard’s (one-dayer), South Caulfield, Old Mentonians and Bentleigh in its remaining home-and-away fixtures for the summer.
Meanwhile in the VTCA’s North Division on Saturday, Laverton couldn’t get the job done at home to Royal Park Brunswick.
The visitors were two-wicket winners over Laverton, who posted 6/159 after choosing to bat first in the one-day game.
Chasing 160, Royal Park Brunswick managed to get to 8/174 in reply.
Werribee Centrals also started the New Year in defeat, going down to Taylors Lakes in the North A1 competition.
In a game dominated by the bowlers, Taylors Lakes’ all-out 83 from 32.1 overs proved to be enough, as the Centurions faltered through their run chase to only manage 77 before losing their 10th and final wicket in the 26th over.
Centrals will host Seddon in another one-dayer this coming weekend.
