Taylors Lakes will enter the festive season within touching distance of the sub-district cricket top six.
The Lions have enjoyed a superb start to life in the subbies after crossing from the VTCA competition with four wins in seven games.
Having lost their previous two games, questions were starting to be raised over the sustainability of the Lions form.
That was put to bed in an emphatic way on Saturday when they toppled high flying Croydon by two runs in a one-day thriller at Lionheart Reserve.
Taylors Lakes set up the victory with the bat, posting 7-222 off 45 overs.
Captain Michael Brne ignited the Lions with 47 off 41 balls, including seven fours and a six.
Brne featured in an 80-run opening stand with in-form Dilan Chandima, who made 58 off 83 balls, his second half-century in consecutive games.
All rounder Yoshan Kumara contributed 36 not out off 38 balls.
Kumara’s influence was huge with the wickets falling around him.
Croydon put up one hell of a fight with the bat, but it was to no avail.
The Cockies were bowled out for 220, three runs short of victory.
In the VTCA, Keilor has sent a warning to the rest of the senior division with a 191-run shellacking of Yarraville Club at Keilor Recreation Reserve.
After bowling the Clubbers out for just 142 after eight wickets to Dan Schuppan, the Blues battered the visitors into submission by posting a massive 333 on day two.
In north west division, Sunshine United preserved its spot in the top two, beating Seddon against the odds at Selwyn Park.
Daniel Pace was outstanding with 91 of United’s 153, allowing his side’s crack bowling unit a chance to defend a small total, dismissing Seddon for 139. St Albans edged closer to the top four with a 49-run win over Laverton away at Laverton Park.
The Saints also had their work cut out for them after posting just 169, but Prabath Priyankara came to the rescue with five wickets on the second day to have the hosts out for 120.
Keilor Park had a comfortable 71-run win over Haig Fawkner, while PEGS was narrowly beaten by undefeated ladder leader Aberfeldie.
In north A1, Sunshine’s skipper Troy Stone made 141 not out as his side beat Sydenham-Hillside by 61 runs at Dempster Park.
The Crows are one of the front-runners in the division, sitting second behind Moonee Valley.
Sunshine YCW is well placed in third going into the break after securing an outright win over Jacana.
Lance Jenkinson
