It is not often a score in the low 100s can prove to be a winning one.
But for Victorian Turf Cricket Association side St Albans, the chance to complete a remarkable bowling comeback will be theirs against Craigieburn this week.
After winning the toss and batting first on Saturday, the Saints were in trouble throughout their innings.
Facing some tough Craigieburn bowling, St Albans slumped to 8-67, with a sub-100-run total on the cards.
PICTURE GALLERY: Craigieburn v St Albans
A fightback from lower-order batsman Bradley Attard proved vital to the Saints’ chances.
Attard made 22 and combined with Andrew Pizaro for a 28-run stand which lifted the total beyond three figures.
St Albans was eventually bowled out five runs later in the 43rd over. But while the target looked thin, it proved to be anything but easy for Craigieburn.
In reply, Craigieburn is 8-78, needing another 28 runs from its final two wickets when play resumes this week.
Securing the win is vital for both teams, which are trying to position themselves for the north A1 finals.
St Albans is on top of the ladder on 71 points, leading the sixth-placed Craigieburn by just eight points.
Meanwhile, in the VTCA’s north division, Keilor is in a great position to secure its fourth outright win of the season after a dominant day’s play against Sunshine Druids. Bowling first, the Blues ripped through the Druids’ top order and continued the pressure throughout the afternoon.
Kaushal Lokuarachchi led the charge, taking 4-14 from just six overs. Despite a fighting 46 from Sunshine’s Shane Windridge, the Druids were eventually bowled out for 127 in the 35th over.
Keilor had no trouble chasing down the small total with opening batsman Jarryd Clements remaining at the crease until the Blues reached 1-108.
His dismissal did nothing to slow the scoring, with Keilor bringing up its first-innings win a short time later for the loss of just two wickets. It will take a 14-run lead into day two this week.
