Yet another half-century for Plenty Valley star all-rounder Sean Ayres helped the Bats keep an unbeaten record in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association on Saturday.
Chasing Kew’s 171, Plenty Valley had a comfortable start with Ayres and Dylan Forster (16) putting on 42 for the first wicket.
Ayres was the second to fall, bowled by Andrew Field for 52. It took his season aggregate to 671 at 67.1 with two games to play in the regular season.
Three more wickets fell in Plenty Valley’s chase, but starts to skipper Michael Sheedy (20), Lorenzo Ingram (26), Daniel Heatley (19), Matt Hunter (18) and Andrew Bennett (21) ensured the Bats got over the line by five wickets.
The win keeps second-placed Caulfield at bay in the north/south division, six points adrift. The Bats host Kingston Saints over the next fortnight before a tantalising final-round one-day clash against Caulfield on March 8 ahead of finals.
In the east/west division, Roxburgh Park-Broadmeadows is within one point of a finals place after beating Box Hill at the weekend.
Chasing Box Hill’s measly total of 109, Roxburgh Park got off to a shocking start, losing 4-0 late on day one to be 4-10.
But a 115-run stand between Mitch Streiff (75) and captain Mitch Johnstone (50) earned a first-innings victory. Patrick Matautaava also added 42 off 27 late and Roxburgh Park declared at 5-183, a lead of 74.
Box Hill then posted 2-74 from 29.2 overs before the close, with Bryce Preston (1-14) and Matautaava (1-17) getting the wickets.
Roxburgh Park plays fifth-placed Altona away over the next fortnight and then hosts Yarraville in a one-dayer in the final round before finals. Box Hill and Roxburgh Park currently sit seventh and eighth respectively, equal on 31 points, while Altona (36) and Endeavour Hills (31) will be desperate to hold onto their finals spots.
In the second XI, Roxburgh Park slumped to its ninth loss of the season as Box Hill chased down 173 for the loss of four wickets.
Plenty Valley’s seconds were left heartbroken as they missed a win over Kew by one run. Chasing 244, Plenty Valley finished on 7-243, with the pain of the not out batsmen – James and Daniel Taylor – plain to see.
