Werribee Centrals suffered a dramatic batting collapse to free-fall from second to fifth on the Victorian Turf Cricket Association west A1 ladder.
The Centurions were coasting on 2-50 in their search for 142 in the one-day game against Kingsville Baptists at Skinner Reserve on Saturday before losing 5-4 in quick succession in the middle order.
A late flurry of runs from the tail-end made it a tight finish but the damage had been done and the Baptists won by 14 runs.
“It turned into a nail-biting finish,” Centurions wicketkeeper Chris Duffin told Star Weekly.
“We really got a bit of momentum and you’d probably have had us favourites at one stage, but they were probably the better side on the day.”
The evenness of the competition dictates no margin for error for sides in and around the top four.
The Centurions had a chance to consolidate second place only to fall out of the four and into the chasing pack.
With big finals-like games against Wyndham Vale, Sunshine Heights and Williamstown CYMS in the run home, the Centurions’ destiny is still in their own hands.
“This loss has put us in a position where we can’t afford to drop those games and now they’re all like cut-throat finals,” Duffin said.
“We’re a developing side, so it will help us to win these games and get to the finals.
“It’s all about getting experience and developing a bit more maturity in situations where we need to dig in a little bit more.”
The Centurions lacked continuity against Kingsville. They had moments of brilliance but were always followed by flat patches.
Thanancheyan Arunthavapalan had a nice all-round game with 36 and 2-22, while paceman Aaron Edrich and spinner Luke Allister snared three wickets apiece.
The Centurions know they will need to produce better to emerge victorious out of this round’s derby clash with Wyndham Vale.
Wyndham Vale enters the big clash with a few worries of their own after losing by 34 runs to cellar dweller Footscray United.
The Falcons posted 8-154 after half centuries to Tyler McGladdery (55) and Michael Nalesnyik (58), but United cruised past the target with 4-188.
In west B1, Point Cook (151) was chopped down 14 runs short by Footscray ANA (9-165) at Angliss Reserve, while Seabrook fell out of the top four after a 60-run thrashing from premiership favourite Deer Park at Bruce Comben Reserve.
