Bundoora will miss the Barclay Shield finals for the first time in three years after a loss to Macleod in the Diamond Valley Cricket Association on Saturday.
Needing to win the one-day game to keep its slim finals hopes alive, Bundoora lost by four wickets.
Diamond Creek, Lower Eltham and Macleod are all assured of finals in the association’s top grade, with Research-Eltham Collegians now the only team that can take Rosanna’s spot in the top four.
Bundoora was on target for an impressive total early, with the score at 1/72 and wicketkeeper Adam Sing (51) well-supported by the Jason Nicholas and Harjinder Chahal. Neither made big runs but held up an end as Sing did most of the damage.
But once Sing went lbw, Bundoora lost 8/52 to be all out for 134.
Tim Wise (67) top-scored as Macleod reached 6/135.
In the Money Shield, Lalor Stars had a nail-biting two-run win over South Morang. The Stars posted 6/225 from their 40 overs, led by Walter Toppi’s 76 off 54 balls, and managed to take enough wickets to prevent South Morang from taking victory.
