It was a game Hoppers Crossing had to win to stay alive in cricket’s sub-district finals race.
After digging themselves a deep hole in the first half of the season, the Cats entered the must-win phase on Saturday.
And, true to form, they failed to live up to their end of the bargain. A disappointing 59-run loss to Altona all but extinguished the Cats’ already slim chances of making a late finals push.
Hoppers Crossing came out with the best intentions, restricting Altona to 193 at Hogans Road Reserve on day one.
It was a stellar bowling performance from the Cats, but you would expect nothing less from their attack.
Spinner Hendro Dias was again the dominant bowler with 4-66 off 25.2 overs. Dias has taken four wickets three matches in a row.
Skipper Greg Kennedy charged in to take 2-32 off 18.2 overs, while Sanka Abeyruwan claimed 2-41 from his 16.
The Cats would have gone to stumps feeling good about their place in the game, needing 194 from the full allotment of overs. But the batting cloud that has hovered over Hoppers Crossing all summer would again rear its ugly head as they butchered a chance to chase down a relatively modest total.
There were plenty of starts for the Cats, but not one batsman could take the game by the scruff of the neck and they succumbed for just 134. Openers Chris Henry (17) and Kennedy (10) gave Hoppers Crossing a solid platform of 27, bit it would be the innings’ second-biggest partnership.
Only Adrian Myers (30) and Abeyruwan (19), who put on 29 for the third wicket, offered much resistance for the Cats, who will be merely playing for pride when they face an equally disappointing Yarraville in a two-day game at the Yarraville Oval.
Elsewhere, Werribee’s return to Chirnside Park proved a disaster.
The Tigers were humiliated on their home turf by 84 runs. Set 133 for victory by Balwyn, they were skittled for just 48 in 34.4 overs, Matthew Burton top-scoring with 12, while 16-year-old wicketkeeper debutant Darcy Phillips was the next best with 10. The only bright spots for Werribee came with the ball, Jonathan Burton leading the way with 4-45 from 22 overs, including nine maidens.
Spinner Michael Kelly snared 3-28 off 14.2, while James Freeman took 2-14 from eight.
Phillips marked a fine debut behind the stumps with two catches and a stumping.
The Tigers are away to Bayswater this weekend.
