Greenvale Kangaroos overcame another heartbreaking loss to record a third win of their Victorian Premier Cricket season.
Coming off their worst performance so far, the Kangaroos had two chances to make amends, in T20 matches against Footscray Edgewater and Monash Tigers.
On Saturday, it came down to the final over against Footscray Edgewater. The Bulldogs had held fast to be 4-134, climbing from 4-52.
Needing nine off the final over, it came down to the last ball of the day – the Kangaroos needed two for a win and one for a tie.
Disappointingly, Aaron Smillie was caught in his quest for those winning runs, leaving the Kangaroos at 9-133, with Sunam Gautam making 55 and Nathan Massey 31.
It was the third time this season the Kangaroos have lost by one run.
The Kangaroos’ second side also lost to the Bulldogs by one run on Saturday.
Coach Stan Nell said as disappointing as the loss was after another close match, there were some positives.
“We will learn from these losses,” he said.
“Sometimes, when you’re developing a side, you have to lose matches like these and see how it feels.”
The Kangaroos didn’t have time to dwell on disappointment, facing the Tigers on Sunday, and Nell wasn’t disappointed by his side.
Batting first, the Kangaroos made 7-114, with Massey and Gautam again the top-scorers – Massey made 44, Gautam finished 28 not out.
The loss of early wickets hurt the Tigers, who were in trouble at 3-11. Kangaroos’ bowlers kept up the pressure and bowled the Tigers out for 81 with one over remaining.
Kyle Adams was the pick of the bowlers taking 5-10.
Nell said the leaders really showed the way.
“It was a fantastic performance from the whole group, They were so disappointed with the loss [the precious] night and everyone made the commitment to get back up.
“Jarrod Leggett has been fantastic and keeps getting the playing group back up. I’ve been lurking in the background.”
The win is the Kangaroos third of the season, two more than the whole of last season.
“We have won a two-day, a one-day and a T20 match,” Nell said. “That’s the first T20 game we’ve won in about three years, it’s a good turn-around. It’s really good to see.”
The Kangaroos have another double-header this weekend, facing Fitzroy Doncaster and Melbourne in one-day matches.
