HOPPERS Crossing looks to be in trouble in the VTCA Senior Division after losing three quick wickets late on day one against St Bernard’s on Saturday.
St Bernard’s won the toss and chose to bat on its home deck at Murphy Oval in Essendon, and made the most of its 55 overs at the crease.
The home team declared at 7/255 after Romain Grenville and Chris Spinella both produced half centuries that contributed to more than half of the total for the innings.
Hoppers Crossing could rarely string quick wickets throughout the day as most of the St Bernard’s batsmen got decent starts.
Captain-coach Darrel Brown claimed the first wicket of the day when he removed Tristan Kassis for four, before Tawalampolage Darshanapriya dismissed Craig Osborne and Nathan Hawkes for a duck and 21 respectively to leave St Bernard’s on 3/38.
However from there the wickets dried up, as the remaining four wickets came at a price of 205 runs.
The visitors spent 25 overs in the middle late in the day’s play but will go into day two this Saturday on the back foot.
The innings will resume at 3/96 after Chris Davis and Luke Davis both claimed wickets.
Regardless of the end result, this game will likely be played for nothing but pride, with both teams hanging just outside the top four with fourth-placed Beaumaris only needing 102 with eight wickets in hand against McKinnon this weekend.
