Tara Murray
Point Cook got a vital win in the fight for a top two spot in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association division 3.
Facing local rival Werribee Centrals, the match was one of three to go ahead despite heavy rain across the north-west on Saturday morning.
Point Cook coach Carmine Conte said there was a little wet patch, but with both teams keen to get out there, play was only delayed by half an hour.
Once out there, Point Cook continued on its good form.
Centrals resumed at 1-44 in reply to Point Cook’s 6-305.
Centrals were bowled out for 205 in the 56th over. Usman Ashraf played a lone hand for Centrals, making 86 off 103 balls.
Harvinder Singh took four wickets for Point Cook.
Centrals were sent back in and were 5-79 when the match ended.
Kavin Kumar took three wickets for Point Cook.
Conte said while a couple of umpiring decisions didn’t got their way it was a pretty strong performance.
“Obviously everyone contributed with the bat,” he said. ”We’re still playing with our batting line up, but we’re getting there.
“We bowled okay. Kavin, another one of our juniors, picked up three quick wickets in the second innings.
“He’s doing quite well.”
With a couple of other important matches ending in draws on Saturday, things worked in the favour of Point Cook.
The side moved into second spot and are only three points behind ladder leaders East Keilor.
Conte said finishing in the top two and sealing a home final in the first week of finals was something they were aiming for.
Point Cook faces fourth placed Williamstown Imperials this week.
It will be a different looking side according to Conte.
“This week we will probably have the youngest side that I’ve ever coached,” he said.
“One of our main players got married in India and a lot of his mates went over for the wedding, so we will have a lot of unavailability’s.”
It was a busy weekend for Point Cook as it played a knockout match in the T20 competition, losing to Yarraville Club.
Conte said they only had 10 players qualified for the match which made it a bit hard, but they were still able to take the game deep.
He said six dropped catches cost them dearly.
“We won’t pick up the bats at training on Tuesday night, it will just be fielding,” he joked.
In other matches on the weekend, Bellbridge didn’t get on against Moonee Ponds in division 4.
Moonee Ponds had made 192 on day one.
In division 5, Sanctuary Lakes claimed an outright win against Barkly Street Uniting.
Having made 276 on day one, the Sharks then bowled Barkly Street out for 92 and then 45 to claim the full 10 points.
The Sharks now sit fourth on the ladder.
Wyndhamvale lost to Donnybrook.
