By ADEM SARICAOGLU
SPOTSWOOD’S season will be on the line this weekend against Laverton in Turf Cricket’s North Division.
The Woodsmen sit less than three points outside the top four, coming into the final day of the home-and-away season and will be desperately hoping their batting line-up comes to the party against the Magpies at Laverton Park.
Spotswood sent Laverton in to bat in the cool conditions on day one on Saturday, and with the help of Ashley Robertson’s very handy figures of 5/23 off 15 overs, the visitors did manage to bowl the Magpies out.
However, the job took 77 overs to complete and by the end of the innings, Laverton was able to post a formidable total of 250.
Robertson’s five-wicket haul was the obvious standout among Spotswood’s bowling figures, but Andrew Butler (2/55), Abhijeet Sharma (1/11), captain-coach Andrew Dickinson (1/33) and Ed Young (1/75) all claimed wickets of their own.
Late in the day, Woodsmen openers Sharma and David Buysen were handed the awkward task of navigating three overs out in the middle, but the pair held firm to walk off the ground unbeaten at stumps.
The pair managed to score just a single run, but will have all of 77 overs to help Spotswood tick off the remaining 250 runs required for victory this weekend.
However, even if the Woodsmen manage to claim victory this coming Saturday, the odds for Spotswood making the final four will still be counting against them, as the fourth-placed Doutta Stars look to be in control of their clash against West Coburg.
With eight wickets still in hand, the Stars only need another 57 runs for victory, and have 58 overs to get them.
The result this weekend is simply academic for Laverton, who cannot make the finals nor be relegated from the North Division – currently perched in eighth spot on the ladder.
Both Williamstown CYMS and Altona North are also playing for nothing but pride in their two-day clash set to resume at the CYs’ Fearon Reserve on Saturday.
Choosing to bat first, Altona North was bowled out for 191 before the CYs started their chase.
Williamstown CYMS will pick up its pursuit of 192 on Saturday at 0/20, with openers Glen Hall (12 n.o.) and Billy Millar (six n.o.) at the crease.
