Hoppers Crossing’s brittle top-order batting reared its ugly head again in a 113-run drubbing from South Caulfield in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division at Hogans Road Reserve on Saturday.
The Cats could muster only 138 in their search of the visitors’ 251 and their finals hopes are seemingly extinguished.
Cats president Steve McNamara said batting issues had ruined his club’s season.
“Our batting has been reasonably fragile all year,” he said. “We’ve quite often been two for very few and it puts a lot of pressure on the middle order. You’re not going to win a lot of games if you continually lose wickets early.”
The Cats’ top order was found out early as they slumped to 3-4 in quick time. The horror post-Christmas run for openers Chris Henry and Cameron Nicol continued; they failed to trouble the scorers.
Middle-order batsmen Sanka Abeyruwan and Luke Goegan were also dismissed without score and tailender Travis Waring made it five ducks on a bleak afternoon for the Cats.
Michael Tubb and Ryan Latham each made 22 to lead the way in the top order.
Skipper Darrel Brown top-scored with 27, closely followed by Dinesh Daminda (26 not out) and Asif Jan (25).
The Cats needed to turn those starts into big scores to trouble a formidable South Caulfield, which is challenging for a flag. “They’re certainly a really good outfit,” McNamara said. “They look the goods this year.”
With finals a long shot and safety from relegation as good as secured, the Cats may consider changing the line-up for the arrival of Old Mentonians at Hogans Road on Saturday.
“We’re probably in a good position to blood a couple of youngsters, put them in the cauldron and see how they go,” McNamara said.
