By Lance Jenkinson
You can put a line through Taylors Lakes in the race for the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association south-west group finals.
The Lions’ slim hopes of making the top six were officially dead and buried with a heavy six-wicket defeat to Yarraville at the Yarraville Oval on Saturday.
It was a disappointing match all round for Taylors Lakes.
The Lions produced a below par score with the bat and never seriously threatened with the ball – though they did fight out the match every step of the way, so it was not though a lack of trying.
Taylors Lakes needed more than 191 off 70.4 overs on the first day. While it was gritty with the bat, it was not enough runs at a venue that promotes high scoring.
Starts were to be found right through the Lions batting line-up, but Chris Marr’s 44 was the high score, while four others went out in the 20s, much to their frustration.
For Taylors Lakes to have any chance of a successful defence, they needed to take early wickets.
It was behind the eight ball from the outset as Yarraville advanced to 47 before the first dismissal.
Taylors Lakes had a little sniff when it had the hosts 3-81 – two of the three scalps taken by Samuel Clark and the other a run out – but that is where the joy ended.
Yarraville powered to victory with Josh Turner (49) and Matthew Harrison (59 not out) doing the bulk of the work following a strong platform built by teenage opener Aidan Salvado (47).
Clark was the pick of the Taylors Lakes bowlers with 3-43 off 17.2.
He also played a part in the run-out of Turner.
Jarrod Wakeling toiled hard for Taylors Lakes with 0-51 off 23 overs, while Dilshan Kanchana kept it tight with 0-40 off 16.
Taylors Lakes is now bottom of the ladder after being leap-frogged by Moorabbin.
The Lions host Altona in a two-day game starting on Saturday.
