By Tara Murray
Werribee Centrals’ first outright win in a number of years has kept its slight Victorian Turf Cricket Association Evans-Clark Shield finals hopes alive.
Not expecting to play finals this season as they continue to rebuild, the Centurions put themselves in the conversation heading into the final round.
“It puts us in a tricky spot,” Centurions president Luke Allister said.
“I did the maths during the week. If we could win outright this week and East Coburg could beat Seabrook it would come down to the final round.
“We play East Coburg in the final round. We need to win and hope Laverton does us a favour and beats Seabrook.
“It will then come down to percentage and I think ours isn’t too bad. We need two more things to go our way.”
Allister said with a brand new side this season they weren’t sure what they were going to do.
He said they’ve managed to find a bit more depth and their second XI, which is full of young players, will play finals.
“Some had not played together,” he said. “We’ve had five guys out of the first XI… We’ve had a few come up and play roles, they’ve done the club thing.
“Shane Brooks, a long time cricketer took two unreal catches on Saturday. He will go back and play in the second XI finals.
“It’s more than just team wins, it’s club wins.”
The win on Saturday against St Andrew’s Footscray is something that the Centurions haven’t done in a long time, taking all 10 points,
The Centurions made 116 on day one before bowling St Andrew’s out for 98 to lead by 18 runs on the first innings.
Tarique Jeffrey took 5-31 for the Centurions to ensure they got wickets. Allister said he changed the game.
With six points in hand, the Centurions went back out there and quickly made, 3-125.
“We ended up declaring an over earlier than we were planning on,” he said. “Luke Simpson and Tarique came out and got some quick runs.”
Simpson finished 59 not out and Jeffrey 46 not out.
The Centurions needed just 17.4 overs to bowl St Andrew’s out a second time, this time for 58.
Neil Hariman came on and opened the bowling with a heavy wind around and took 3-14 to help his side get the win.
Allister said no matter the outcome this week against East Coburg it had been a successful season.
“We’ve hoping things go our way, but it’s been more of a development year,” he said.
“There’s a lot of young guys in the seconds. It’s a lot better than over the last few years.”
In other matches, Bellbridge just fell short of an outright win against Roxburgh Park.
The Bears made 6-262 from 58 overs with Roxburgh Park bowled out for 124.
The Falcons were sent back in and managed to avoid the outright loss, finishing with 160.
The Bears sit third on the ladder.
