Two rounds ago, Sunbury was clear on top of the Gisborne and District Cricket Association’s McIntyre Cup ladder, and looked to be cruising.
But two losses in as many matches has Sunbury fighting to hold on to the top four.
Sunbury sits second midway through the second last game of the regular season, but about eight points separates it and fifth-placed Diggers Rest Bulla.
For Sunbury playing coach Justin Nelson, players know they have to find form quickly or risk missing finals.
“We had a shocker the last couple of weeks,” he said. “We’ve been clear on top of the ladder and now everyone is catching up.
“We didn’t bat well against Riddell and, credit to them, they bowled well. I thought we batted well against Rupertswood and had enough, but they paced themselves well.”
Nelson said they’d been working on their game in training, and Sunbury players will have to put that into action on Saturday if they want to defeat fifth-placed Diggers Rest Bulla.
The Burras made 179 against Sunbury in the first day’s play on Saturday, Blake Robinson top scoring with 58.
Sunbury captain Jason McGann had sent the Burras in, with Nelson calling it a gutsy move.
“We’re happy to have kept them to 179,” he said. “If we can’t make 180, I’m not sure we deserve to play finals.”
Veterans Heath Boffey and Jason McGann took four and three wickets respectively.
Nelson and the rest of the Sunbury side know how important the win is this round, with their final round match-up against third-placed Gisborne.
“You don’t want to go into the final round trying to make finals,” he said. “It would be nice to win this week and, hopefully, have our spot sealed going into the final round.”
In other matches, Riddell and Gisborne look on track to add another win to their season tallies.
The Bombers are 0-18 needing 144 against bottom side Romsey. Romsey struggled throughout its innings and, if not for some late order hitting, may have been bowled out earlier.
Matthew Burkett top scored with 35 in Romsey’s total of 143.
Matthew Livingstone and Matthew Darby took three wickets each for the Bombers.
Gisborne’s bowlers had a good day against Rupertswood, bowling Rupo out for 135. Clinton Young took 4-49, while Jay King and Roby Lane took three wickets each.
In the other match, Bacchus Marsh made 9-236 against Woodend. Mili Sepala top scored with 63. Josh Eastley was the best of the bowlers, taking 3-17.
