Taylors Lakes will face a do-or-die scenario this Saturday.
The Lions have been written off externally, but there is belief within the camp that the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association north-west first XI finals remain a possibility, even if they sit third-last on the ladder and 15 points out of the top six with three rounds to go.
Taylors Lakes will be looking to extend its season by chasing down a sizeable target against Kew on home turf at Lionheart Reserve.
The Lions will need to make 259 for victory, which would eclipse their high score for the summer, 9-243 against Plenty Valley in round five.
“We think we’re a chance for the finals still if we win our last three games,” Lions player-coach Paul Thomas said.
“Everyone above us seems to be playing against each other and we will still need results to go our way. We have to win this game and we have to win all of our last three games.
“If we lose this, that’s the end of us.
“The wicket was a very good wicket and the ground is small on one side. We’re confident that we can get the runs.
“We will have to bat well and someone has to go on and make a big score.”
Taylors Lakes was made to pay for its sloppy fielding on day one.
The Lions had Kew in a corner at 5-93, but the visitors found their way out through Chris Weeks, who made his third century for the year.
Weeks produced 123, but was given a few lifelines along the way.
“We dropped about five catches,” Thomas said. “He should’ve been out on about 50. He was the key for their innings.”
Youngster Samuel Clark was the leading wicket-taker for Taylors Lakes.
The left-arm swing bowler finished with 3-56 off 13 overs, including the wicket of Weeks.
“He gets some nice in-swing and bowls at a good pace,” Thomas said. “He’s got a good future at the club.”
Yoshan Kumara took an economical 1-39 off 20 overs, while Dilan Chandima snared 2-49 off 17.1 overs.
It was a good bowling performance from Taylors Lakes, but a couple of factors worked against them.
“We didn’t bowl badly,” Thomas said. “They just batted well and we dropped some catches that we should’ve taken.”
