The first hour of the new year looked promising for Sunshine Heights in the VTCA north-west B1.
The next five hours were a disaster.
The Heights got off to a flyer by having West Newport at 4-23.
Instead of tapping out, Wests fought back, recovering from a precarious position to blast 6-230, with middle-order batsmen Josh Eason-Jones (82) and Josh Macdonald (81no) combining for a game-changing 143-run sixth-wicket partnership.
Akon Mawien fought hard with the ball for the Heights, taking 2-31 off eight overs in oppressive heat. His new ball partner, Simon Charlton, battled to take 2-43, but there was no joy thereafter, with Wests taking a liking to the Heights change bowlers.
Sunshine Heights started its batting as it had with the ball – full of promise.
Shane Ramsey (13) and James Vella (eight) put on 24 for the first wicket before No.3 Mohsin Abbas produced 26.
The removal of both openers sparked a dramatic batting collapse for the Heights, with the final eight wickets tumbling for 72 runs.
It was a costly loss for Sunshine Heights, which has dropped out of the top four and down to seventh.
With only three points separating fourth to ninth, the Heights face a crucial one-day encounter with ninth-placed St Andrews Pascoe Vale at Ainsworth Reserve on Saturday.
Deer Park has managed to steer clear of the mid-table logjam, beating Flemington by 31 runs to sit in third.
Shane Jones was the man of the match for Deer Park with 57 and 3-15.
In north-west division, Sunshine United has retained its place in the top four despite a narrow 17-run loss to second-placed West Coburg.
St Albans downed Haig Fawkner by 16 runs after a stand-out all-round display from Tom Langley-Dunn with 50 and 3-12.
Keilor Park remains in the bottom half of the standings after a one-wicket loss to Laverton.
In north A1, Sunshine YCW consolidated its spot in the top four with a commanding 52-run win over Roxburgh Park, led by a firecracker 72 not out from Joel Evans and a season-best 5-37 from Mark Schwartz.
Sydenham-Hillside was lacklustre in a 37-run loss to Jacana, while Sunshine suffered its first loss of the season at the hands of ladder leader Moonee Valley.
In west A1, Grand United mauled Bellbridge by 134 runs.
