Melton Centrals and Bellbridge are locked in a tight tussle after day one of their Williamstown District Cricket Association clash.
Batting first after winning the toss, the Bellbridge top order was in all sorts of trouble after a Centrals’ triple strike.
Martin Ritchie and Blake Mensch were dismissed without scoring, while Sam Hewitt made two.
However, just when it looked like Melton was ready to run through the rest of the batting order, Bellbridge’s Dave Henderson mounted a counter attack.
He’d opened the batting and watched carnage play out from the other end, but Henderson got his side back in the match with a gritty 37.
Resistance was short-lived though, as the rest of the line-up failed to build any substantial partnerships, and the score crashed to 9-114.
It was at this point Bellbridge tail-enders made their move. A final pairing of Andrew Wilks and Mark Croswell notched a vital 45-run stand to lift their team’s total to 159, before Croswell was removed.
With six overs left in play, the Centrals were forced to face a tricky period in the middle – and it soon got harder. Melton lost two wickets to be 2-7 at the close of play.
When the game resumes this week, the Centrals will need a further 153 runs to win, with eight wickets in hand.
Meanwhile, in other WDCA matches, Caroline Springs faces a tough challenge against Gellibrand after a monster partnership on Saturday. Struggling at 3-6 and 4-43, the Gellibrand innings was turned around by wicket-keeper Gaurav Sharma and middle order batsman Nicholas Keating. The pair combined for a 222-run stand, with Sharma making 181 while Keating scored 52.
Gellibrand then launched into attack mode and declared its innings at 7-286.
In reply, Caroline Springs is 0-30, with Harry Sudholz not out on 10, while Johaan Forbes-Anthony is on 18.
Also in the WDCA, Grand United looks certain to win after bowling Melton South out for 98. Grand United is on 1-67.
Liam Twomey
