Wyndham Vale fell three runs short of victory against Footscray United in the opening round of the Victoria Turf Cricket Association’s west A1 competition on Saturday.
United, sent in, set a competitive total of 9-176 on the back of 78 from opener Stuart Ainge.
Aaron Graham was best of the bowlers for Wyndham Vale, taking three wickets, while skipper Andrew Ford and Adam Walls took two apiece.
Wyndham Vale started its chase well and was perfectly placed at 1-100 to reach its target.
From there everything went wrong, Wyndham Vale losing 6-12 to fall to 7-112.
Its lower order didn’t give up without a fight but in the end Wyndham Vale was 9-174, an agonising three runs short.
Opener Tyler McGladdery top-scored with 55, while Jonathan Ford, batting at eight, made 23.
Werribee Centrals were also on the wrong end of the ledger, losing to Kingsville Baptists.
Batting first, Centrals struggled to put partnerships together as the wickets tumbled.
Centrals were bowled out for 138 with two overs left, Shaun Jennings top-scoring with 34.
Centrals began well with the ball, and soon had Baptists at 4-32.
But Sujith Nikethana rescued his side’s innings, with 57 not out. It got Baptists over the line, the innings ending at 6-148.
Matthew Kozole, in his first game for Centrals, was the best of the bowlers with three wickets. In other results, Newport-Digman lost to Altona Roosters, Royal Park Brunswick defeated St Andrews, and Sunshine Heights was too good for Williamstown CYMS.
In west B1, Point Cook started its season with a win over Footscray ANA.
It’s Point Cook’s first season back in B1, after finishing on the bottom of the west A1 ladder and being relegated.
Sent in, Point Cook’s batsmen struggled to compile an innings.
Captain and opener Travis Bean was the anchor, but could find no one to stay with him.
Bean (44) and Tyson Pearce (24) were the only two batsmen to reach double figures in a disappointing 8-140.
Footscray ANA lost early wickets and slumped to 4-52.
A 43-run partnership between Joshua Everest and Daryl Veteha appeared capable of derailing Point Cook’s hopes of victory.
But once it was broken, Point Cook took 5-24 to restrict Footscray ANA to 9-119.
Brett Talbot took four wickets for Point Cook.
Deer Park, Barkly Street Uniting and West Newport also had first-up wins.
