Hoppers Crossing is a long shot to feature in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association finals, but it will not die wondering.
The Cats were supposed to run out of their nine lives in a penultimate round meeting against ladder leader Melton, but could be on the verge of a major upset.
Cats captain-coach Greg Kennedy knows a lot of things will need to go right – both in his team’s control and out of his team’s control –if they are to break into the top six, but they will fight every step of the way until there is no more hope.
“We were pretty fired up,” he said after a positive day one of the two-day battle.
“We’re playing for our lives against the top-of -the-table side.”
The first day could not have gone much better for Hoppers Crossing, which is three points outside the top six with two results in play.
The Cats rolled Melton for just 135 in 62.3 overs at Hogans Road Reserve on Saturday and finished the day on 1-18 in reply.
“We’ve had a great first day, but there’s still plenty of work to do,” Kennedy said.
“We know what we’re up for, so it’s up to us to put in the hard work and get it done.”
There were stars all over the field for Hoppers Crossing.
The Cats were miserly with the ball, giving up just two extras through leg byes and not a single wide or no ball.
They held their catches, with Cats wicketkeeper Justin Goegan leading the way with four to take his season tally to a league-best 28.
It’s not just Goegan’s dismissals that makes him so important with the gloves.
“All of our fielders have been really good,” Kennedy said.
“We didn’t put down a chance today, so we were excellent.
“Justin, in particular, he’s a leader with his behaviour and his voice in the field, on top of being a top class wicketkeeper. I’m sure he’s mis-gloved a ball, but I can’t think of anything important that he’s done wrong.
“You can rely on him, you know he’s A-plus every week.”
Hoppers Crossing’s bowlers were at their menacing best. Brett Smith was again the chief destroyer with 4-43 off 16 overs.
“I think Brett is in that top group of consistent performers in the competition that does it week in week out,” Kennedy said.
“He swings the ball, he bowls at a reasonable pace, not one of the lightning fast ones, but he bowls at a good clip.
“His average and his economy is up there with the top-10 bowlers in the competition.”
Bryce Stuart enjoyed a stellar first XI debut with Hoppers Crossing, finishing with 3-36 off 13 overs. Spinners Mitchell Ellis (1-9 off six) and Nkosana Mpofu (1-10 off 11) had some tidy spells, while Kennedy took 1-13 off 5.3.
Hoppers Crossing requires 118 runs with nine wickets in hand to stay in the finals race.
