By Michael Esposito
AN 83-run first wicket partnership between Mathew Love (63) and Tim McRae (49) set up Yarraville’s close win over Sunshine in Round 6 of the Victorian sub-district season.
Tailender Matthew La Rocca chipped in with 26, which proved crucial. La Rocca has scored a total of 47 runs in three games this season and has yet to be dismissed.
Sunshine’s David Bonavia broke the first-wicket partnership, dismissing both openers and first drop Paul Thomas for one to slow Yarraville down.
He also bowled Michael Culliver for a duck, while Troy Stone chipped in with two wickets.
McRae and Nick Parish were the heroes with the ball for Yarraville, helping to successfully defend their team’s total of 8/188, with seven wickets between them. Sunshine was bowled out for 181 in the 44th over.
Werribee was dealt a harsh cricketing lesson when soundly beaten by Noble Park.
After a positive start to the season, Werribee has lost its past two games, which have been characterised by low scores.
The Tigers struggled to 123 before being dismissed in the 45th over. Noble Park got the runs in just 23 overs, scoring at a run rate of 5.4 runs an over.
For the second week running, no Werribee batsman scored more than 30, with the Tigers’ top scorer Baijan Asif making 29. Asif and Alifraco (20) both made ducks the previous week, but were Werribee’s top contributors with the bat on Saturday, along with opener David Buchanan, who also made 20.
The Tigers looked like they might make a game of it after bowling out Noble Park openers Ashley Bradshaw and Andrew O’Meara for 10 and six respectively.
But Dean Edmunds, with an unbeaten 32, and Peter Harper, who produced a quickfire 67, took control to help Noble Park cruise past Werribee.
Peter Moore was Werribee’s only multiple wicket collector, taking 2/31 from five overs.
In a close contest, Altona surpassed Oakleigh’s total in the 44th over, with three wickets to spare.
Christian Hewett made a confidence boosting 52 after posting just two runs in his previous three games.
Opener John Varchione (33) was also handy with the bat.
Oakleigh was bowled out for 131 in the last over, thanks in part to a four wicket haul from VSDCA Intergroup Challenge representative Matthew Boglis.
Williamstown was easily defeated by Broadmeadows by six wickets.
