Hoppers Crossing was clinical in its dismantling of Melton on the weekend in its Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association north-west two-day clash.
The Cats took on the struggling Lions at Hogans Road Reserve and have now hit some form with three wins on the bounce setting the Cats up for a big end to the year.
The Cats won the toss and bowled on Saturday afternoon with marquee signing Fawed Ahmed showing his worth.
The former Victorian spinner was instrumental all weekend and did some of his best work early dismissing both opening batsmen after they were able to get away to a promising start.
Ahmed continued to terrorise the Lions, taking the wickets of all of the top six batsmen leaving opening bowler Kaushik Jagannathan to clean up the tail taking the next four wickets.
Ahmed finished the first innings with 6-25 from 19 overs, while Jagannathan had 4-16 off 12, bowling the Lions out for 115.
The Cats were then able to chase the runs with ease making the 115 and batting on, declaring at 8-206.
Opening batsmen Simon Lambert and Fazal Nawab were the Cats’ top scorers with 42 and 41 respectively.
In the second innings, the Cats chased an outright and the inform bowlers Jagannathan and Ahmed were handed the task of bowling their team to victory.
They did not disappoint, with Jagannathan taking 2-5 off seven overs, and Ahmed taking a huge 7-43 from 17.5 overs.
Ahmed taking 13 wickets for just 68 runs over the weekend has him as the VSDCA north-west’s best performing bowler with 20 wickets at an average of 8.35.
The Cats’ big win puts them in sixth place on the ladder after six rounds, this weekend they play Williamstown again at home.
Werribee defeated Williamstown over the weekend, chasing down the 150 Williamstown put up in 39.4 overs. Shaun Dean top scored with an unbeaten 68.
