MELTON is set to battle on four fronts as all of its grades qualified for Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association grand finals to be played this weekend.
The Lions’ first XI accounted for Balwyn by four wickets on Sunday to advance to the north-west decider against Kew, which will be played at MacPherson Park this weekend.
Balwyn survived all its 80 overs, making 212 on Saturday, after winning the toss and batting at MacPherson Park, recovering from a 4-46 start.
Melton’s top order took care of the bulk of the chase before a late wobble, but not enough wickets fell to leave it to the tail as the Lions reached 6-213 off 75 overs.
Captain Mick Allen (54) and Anthony Gale (75 not out) put on 74 for the second wicket in the innings’ biggest partnership, while Nathan Geisler (21) and Shane Harwood (25) also made runs.
James Wheelahan (3-29), Geisler (2-32), Nathan Allen (2-33) and Duncan Harrison (2-31) in his 200th game shared the wickets.
Kew beat Altona in the other semi-final. Melton hammered Kew in the only meeting between the clubs this season in late January after the Lions made 8-273 and a five-wicket haul from Harwood skittled Kew for 92 in reply.
Saturday’s grand final starts at 12.30pm and will continue Sunday.
In second XI, Melton is also set to play Kew after beating Ivanhoe by 27 runs in the semi-final.
Melton made 9-145 off its 80 overs before Paul Halfhide’s 4-23 led the wicket-taking as Ivanhoe was all out for 118 in reply.
In third XI, Melton will play Brunswick in the grand final after beating Balwyn by five wickets at the weekend.
Cobi Davies (3-30) and Jarryd Vernon (3-34) restricted Balwyn to 162 before Andrew Cristofaro (91no) and Nathan Pinder (21no) shared a 122-run stand to take Melton from 5-42 to victory at 5-164.
In fourth XI, David Thompson (4-17) was leading wicket-taker as Coburg (8-137) was chased down by Melton (3-141) with Jeremy Newman (50no) top-scoring.
Melton will play Plenty Valley in the grand final.
