HOPPERS Crossing fell agonisingly short of first innings points to be knocked out of the finals race in Turf Cricket’s Senior Division on Saturday.
Coming into the second day’s play of their home clash against Old Mentonians, the Cats required another 150 runs with nine wickets in hand after finishing at 1/28 on day one.
In the much cooler conditions from those of seven days earlier, Hoppers Crossing couldn’t hold onto its remaining wickets in pursuit of 178, falling just two runs short of its target in 68.2 overs.
With plenty of overs still available for the day’s play, Old Mentonians embarked on a second dig but failed miserably as Hoppers Crossing’s Tawalampolage Darshanapriya took the order to task, claiming eight wickets to help dismiss the visitors for 51 in just 21.2 overs.
The Cats had just two overs to claim what would have been a vital outright win, but could only reach 0/22.
The result leaves Hoppers Crossing stranded in ninth place on the Senior Division table with just one match still to come for the summer, which will be on the road to Bentleigh beginning this weekend.
Meanwhile in the VTCA’s West B1 competition, Point Cook remains second on the table after going down on the road to Barkly Street Uniting on Saturday.
The host managed to chase down Point Cook’s 144 in a tense battle at Maribyrnong Reserve, reaching 149 before losing its 10th and final wicket in the 68th over.
Troy Semmens was more than serviceable in the loss, claiming 5/26 and two maidens for the visitors.
Wyndhamvale is back in the West B1 finals hunt after claiming its second outright win for the summer, getting the job done against Kingsville Baptists at home on Saturday.
Jonathon Ford (4/34) and Jay Dolliver (3/27) both proved crucial in the final innings of the match, helping bowl Kingsville Baptists out for 116, 34 runs short of victory.
Wyndhamvale is fifth on the West B1 table.
