By Tara Murray
Caroline Springs got a vital win as it aims to finish top four in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association Charles Clark Shield division 4.
Sitting sixth heading into the weekend’s match, the Falcons moved into the top four after beating Wyndham Vale.
Batting first, the Falcons made 2-210.
Falcons skipper Kane Sevior said they took a while to find their pace.
“We started pretty slowly before Braiden Gale and Gayashan Weerasekara put on a big partnership,” he said.
“I thought that we would lose a few wickets in the run home as we chased runs, but they batted through.”
Gale finished 69 not out, after being on eight after the first 20 overs.
Weerasekara scored his first century of the season, finishing 101 not out.
Sevior said he showed some of the form that won him the division’s best player award last season.
“He’s not quite batting as well as he did last season, he’s been finding ways of getting out,” Sevior said. “He showed some of that form. It didn’t look like he would get the century, needing 20 off the last three overs.
“He made it in the last over.”
The Falcons then turned it on with the ball, bowling Wyndham Vale out for 119.
Sevior said it was a couple of the younger bowlers who set the tone.
“Lucas [Blackman] and Braedon [Mulheran] played really well and set it up with early wickets.”
Blackman finished with 3-28 and Mulheran, Mujtaba Hussain and Weerasekara took two wickets each.
Photo Gallery: Caroline Springs vs Wyndham Vale
The Falcons now sit in fourth, percentage ahead of fifth-placed East Coburg.
Sevior said finals were the clear aim, not just for the top side but all five men’s sides.
“The aim is for all sides to make it through to the finals and hopefully have at least one of us push for the flag this year.”
Another side with finals’ ambitions is Sydenham-Hillside. The Storm sit third just ahead of Caroline Springs.
On Saturday the Storm defeated East Coburg, making 4-141 in reply to East Coburg’s 140.
In division 5, Melton South Royals moved into the top four with a big win against Bellbridge.
Bellbridge made 99. Matthew O’Brien took three wickets to be the pick of the bowlers for the Royals. O’Brien then top-scored with 30 as the Royals made 2-102.
Second-placed Melton Centrals easily beat Williamstown Colts.
Centrals made 8-137 from their overs, before bowling Colts out for 78.
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