By Tara Murray
Greenvale Kangaroos showed some improvement, but it wasn’t enough to break their drought in Victorian Premier Cricket.
In a double-header weekend, the Kangaroos fell agonisingly short of victory on Saturday before a big loss to Geelong on Sunday.
On Saturday, Kingston Hawthorn won with two balls remaining. The Kangaroos made 9-242, their highest score this season.
New coach and former Sri Lankan international Kaushal Silva stepped up, making 133 at just over a run a ball in his second match for the club.
Kingston Hawthorn looked on track for victory, at 4-202 before the Kangaroos got some late wickets to put the pressure back on.
In the end it came down to the last over, with Kingston Hawthorn needing six runs for the win. They got the runs on the third last ball, finishing 7-246.
Sean McNicholl and Kyle Adams took two wickets each for the Kangaroos.
It was much tougher on Sunday against Geelong.
Greenvale Kangaroos again batted first, this time making 8-210.
Captain Michael Stretton produced his best performance of the season, making 75 in the middle of the innings. Connor Hayes, in his first XI debut, finished 26 not out.
Experienced Geelong openers Eamonn Vines and Tim Ludeman quickly took control of the game.
The two put on 123 for the first wicket partnership. Geelong would lose just three wickets, finishing 3-211 with nearly 15 overs remaining.
Zaheer Hussain took all three wickets for the Kangaroos, finishing with 3-46.
