Tara Murray
St Albans has to just keep winning if it is any chance of making the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior finals.
The Saints entered the first day of play in the second last round in seventh spot, four points outside the top four.
Results from three matches from the previous round are being disputed though.
With every side but Westmeadows still a chance to mathematically make finals, it’s going to be a big end to the season.
Saints coach Michael Else said it was pretty simple for them.
“We’re still mathematically a chance to make finals,” he said. “If we win both our games we can still make it.
“We can win both our games and still miss out. All we can do is keep winning as we can’t rely on other teams, and see what happens.”
The Saints finals hopes took a hit as the competition returned to two-day cricket. They lost their first match quite comfortably to Deer Park, while their match with the Druids ended in a draw.
Else said they thought that the longer format would suit their game, but it hasn’t proven to be the case so far.
“We had a bad result against Deer Park,” he said. “Last week we didn’t get a result.
“We’ve only had two two-day games. We got the bad end against Deer Park and fielded in 38 degrees, it wasn’t like we dropped a million catches.
“The Druids game didn’t bat well, but we didn’t get to bowl. Not much you can do.”
Else said it had been an OK season so far, with the challenges of matches being washed out early in the season making things hard.
He said they would be a lot happier if they were in the top four with a finals spot secured.
“It has been OK, it hasn’t been awful,” he said.
“In two weeks time it could be a different answer.”
The Saints are facing Keilor in the second last round.
The Blues sit in eighth spot, a game behind the Saints.
The Saints made 252 on day one of the game.
They then face Aberfeldie in the final round.
“Keilor is the local derby,” he said. “We played both sides earlier in the season and beat both teams, but they were both one day games.”
In other matches that are underway, Sunshine United is hosting the Druids, while Deer Park is facing Aberfeldie.
