By Mark Murray
SUNSHINE let a golden opportunity to collect first innings points slip against Box Hill on Saturday in their Victorian Sub District Cricket Association match.
After being set a modest 137 for victory, Sunshine crashed to be all out for 135.
The team resumed play on Saturday in all sorts of trouble at 6/62 and was not able to recover.
Andrew Blake was the destroyer for Box Hill, taking 5/47 from 21 overs.
He received support from Sam Blake (2/32) and Tim Blake (2/28).
Sunshine batsman John Causen (42) was the only player to show any resistance.
Williamstown skipper Craig Sheedy again lifted his side over the line against Melton at MacPherson Park.
The match was turned into a one-day affair after play was abandoned on the first day of play due to rain.
Sheedy cracked a match-winning 63 to help his side reel in Melton’s total of 8/148.
He already has one sparkling century to his name this season and continues to be the rock of the Seagulls combination.
Melton one the toss batted and would have been happy with its total of just under 150.
Michael Alexander played a sensible innings in the middle order, making 37, while Christopher Hope (28 not out), Luke Alaimo (25) and Duncan Harrison (24) hit valuable runs late.
Hope’s unbeaten knock batting at number eight frustrated the Seagulls.
Williamstown opening paceman Daryl Clemson enjoyed a fine day with the new ball, collecting a five-wicket haul of 5/10 off nine overs.
He not only took wickets at regular intervals, but was virtually impossible to score off.
In reply Smith and Brenton Hodges (21) got the job done.
The pair put on 52 runs for the third wicket, with Hodges departing with the match in Williamstown’s control at 3/108.
The Seagulls ended up posting 6/150, reeling in the target with 3.3 overs to spare.
Altona defeated Werribee in the one-day fixture at Chirnside Park on Saturday.
The Tigers managed just 103 and Altona had no problems getting them, with Anthony Cristoforo finishing unbeaten on 42.
In other matches, Broadmeadows’ young guns showed fighting qualities to belie their years to record an outright victory over Mt Waverley on Saturday.
Broady lost the first innings points but bounced back to win outright after being set 126 runs to win by Mt Waverley in the second dig.
They needed to reel in the runs in 24 overs and did so with three wickets down and two balls to spare.
In its second innings Mt Waverley declared 9/91, leaving Broadmeadows a total of 126 to get.
Croydon defeated Oakleigh, and Noble Park toppled Bayswater, and Yarraville crushed Endeavour Hills.
