Taylors Lakes produced another masterful one-day performance in sub-district cricket.
The Lions have taken four wins from five matches in the short format, dismantling Melton by seven wickets on the road at MacPherson Park on Saturday.
Lions’ coach Kris McMullin must wish all games were one-day affairs – that’s where most of the wins have come as his side roars back into the top six in its inaugural season at this level.
“It was a commanding performance against a quality opposition,” McMullin said. “Our one-day form stacks up, but if we want to play finals, we’ve got to start performing in the two-day cricket as well.
“That starts this week against top side Williamstown. There’s no better challenge for the guys against the top side.”
With victories over finals’ contenders on either side of the mid-season break, Taylors Lakes is showing it has the “stickability” to be in the finals race. There are fewer tougher away venues in the league than Melton, so for the Lions to go in and bully a top-four side sends the message it may be part of the finals’ conversation.
But McMullin was not looking too far ahead, preferring to reserve judgment until after a tough January of competition, which concludes with consecutive games against top-two outfits Williamstown and Balwyn.
“Our first three games after Christmas are going to really tell a story as to where we go this year,” McMullin said. “I couldn’t be more pleased with the boys; they’re meeting every challenge head on and they’re really enjoying playing this standard of cricket.
“We’ve put ourselves in a position where we can play finals. That’s the aim from here.”
Taylors Lakes set up victory with the ball, rolling Melton for just 81. Lions’ medium pacers Yoshan Kumara (2-19) and Mark McLachlan (3-17) caused uncertainty among Melton’s top order, but it was spinner Jarrod Wakeling who broke the game open for the visitors, taking 4-11 off nine miserly overs.
Wakeling has taken four wickets on three occasions this summer to have 13 wickets at 10.9.
“He’s a quality bowler,” McMullin said. “Whenever we’re in a bit of trouble, we generally go to him. He can not only tie down an end, but he’s got wicket balls as well.
“Along with [Dilan] Chandima, those two spin options have been critical for us this year.”
Taylors Lakes cruised to the target three down in just 17.2 overs. Captain Michael Brne (17) and Chandima (23) gave the Lions a good start before Mohammad Khan impressed in his late call, up from the second XI with 22 not out.
“It’s his job now to hold his spot for the rest of the year,” McMullin said of Khan.
