Romsey needs to find consistency with the bat as it tries to avoid relegation in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association’s McIntyre Cup.
Romsey sits seventh on the ladder after 10 rounds, just under four points ahead of bottom placed Rupertswood.
With four rounds remaining, including three against sides currently in the top four, Romsey needs to find form, as skipper Chris Burkett well knows.
“I’ve said numerous times that our consistency isn’t good enough,” he said. “Our good is very good, but our bad is not up to scratch. It’s about finding the middle ground.
“We can compete with every side when we’re playing well,” Burkett said. “We have to win a couple of games in the run home. It’s close from the last spot in the finals; it will be interesting.”
On Saturday, poor batting again cost Romsey, and it lost to Bacchus Marsh.
Chasing 9-271, Romsey started well and was 2-131. That momentum couldn’t be sustained, and Romsey lost 8-49 to be all-out for 179.
Burkett said batsmen struggled to form partnerships after the promising start.
“We started well with the top three, and looked to set a platform for the middle and lower order,” he said. “Once they started to get a couple wickets, they got wickets consistently.
“Credit to Marsh, they bowled well,” he conceded. “The better team on the day prevailed.” Burkett top-scored, making 50.
Meanwhile, other results have seen a shuffle of the ladder with changes to three of the top four positions.
Sunbury stays on top after an easy win over Woodend. Defending 218, Sunbury bowled Woodend out for just 98. Jason McGann was the pick of the bowlers taking 3-9 off 20.5 overs, which included 15 maidens.
Sunbury was 3-40 in its second innings.
The loss means Woodend slips out of the top four to sixth, while Riddell has moved in after a big win over Rupertswood.
In complete control after the first day, the Bombers put on 9-260, well past Rupertswood’s total of 91. Bombers’ skipper Mick Allen was again highest run-scorer, making 94.
Rupertswood finished their second innings 6-101. The Bombers are now third on the ladder, jumping both Bacchus Marsh and Woodend.
Gisborne did its top-two hopes no harm with its victory over Diggers Rest Bulla. Needing just 102 for the win, the Dragons piled on the runs, finishing 7-337. Beau Valka was the standout, making 116. The results move the Dragons to second, and Diggers Rest Bulla slips to fourth.
