Sunshine nailed a vital victory over Sydenham-Hillside the hard way in Victorian Turf Cricket Association north A1 at Lloyd Reserve on Saturday.
The Crows found a way after a long day in the field and were handsomely rewarded with tickets to this season’s finals.
Crows captain-coach Troy Stone was delighted with the “tough, grinding” 18-run win.
“We got the job done,” he said. “It’s satisfying to get the finals spot wrapped up.”
Sunshine made a healthy 9-237 before declaring late on day one.
It was a total the Crows were confident they could defend, even against tough opposition on a small oval.
Kaluwahandi Prasad gave Sydenham-Hillside every chance by hitting 96.
Prasad got the Storm to within 40 runs of the target, but its tail failed to wag and it was bowled out for 219.
That leaves the Storm sitting outside the top four and in danger of missing the finals, while the Crows can reflect on a job well done and begin preparing for the finals.
“I was always confident because runs on the board always dictates the game,” Stone said.
“We bowled well towards the end of the day, put the ball in the right areas and our fielding was excellent. We took four really good chances, so good fielding and good bowling produced the goods.”
Stone was outstanding with the ball, producing 28 tight overs for 4-85.
The spinner was focused on containment, but still managed to pick up crucial wickets.
“I tried to tie up one end all day,” Stone said.
“We thought getting pressure on them while still needing a lot of runs after tea was really important, so I plundered away all day.
“Later in the day it started turning a little bit, but I was bowling a bit different to normal – trying to bowl dot balls essentially, mixing up the pace, hitting different areas.”
Stephen Syme impressed with 3-22 off 10 overs for Sunshine, while Charith Fernando snared 3-30 off 14.3.
Sunshine will travel to Caroline Springs in the final round at Town Centre Oval on Saturday with the winner likely to be crowned minor premier.
Caroline Springs swooped on top spot on Saturday after an outright win over Barkly Street, led by 101 not out from Nick Alexander.
In senior division, Keilor is clinging to fourth spot, despite back-to-back losses.
The Blues were belted from pillar to post by Greenvale Kangaroos in a 147-run thumping at Greenvale Recreation Reserve and will likely need a win over Doutta Stars in the final round to reach the finals.
In north-west division, Sunshine United has kept its season alive with a stunning outright win over Keilor Park at Ray Davies Reserve.
United lost on first innings, but reversed the result in the second dig, declaring on 5-166 for a 136-run lead and bowling Keilor Park out for 115.
Neetan Chouhan’s quick-fire 81, which included 10 fours and three sixes, in the second innings, and Michael Glowacki’s eight wickets, were the keys for United, which is 1.52 points out of the top four.
St Albans remains a mathematical chance of finals in sixth place after a 40-run win over PEGS, sealed by 4-36 off 21 overs from Robert Nikolic.
