Old Paradians/St Francis’s season is sitting on a double edge sword with just three rounds left in the Diamond Valley Cricket Association’s Barclay Shield season.
The Wolves are seventh on the ladder, two games outside the top four but only one game clear of the relegation zone.
Wicketkeeper John Bubis said the Wolves needed to win at least one more match to avoid relegation.
“Four wins this season should see you stay up in the top division,” he said.
“They’re reducing the Barclay Shield from 12 teams to 10 teams next season, so three teams will be relegated.
“We could win the rest of our games and make finals or could lose them all and be relegated.”
In the Wolves’ favour, two of the three remaining matches are against sides below them.
“Hopefully, we can win at least one of those games,” Bubis said.
“We’ll just take it one week at a time and see what happens from there.”
The Wolves did their hopes of staying in the top division no harm with a win over bottom side Bundoora on Saturday.
Batting first Bundoora managed only 127 after not one but two batting collapses.
Looking good at 0-40, Bundoora lost 5-8 to crumble to be 5-48.
A couple of handy partnership took them to 6-96 before the second collapse.
Adam Sing and Shupinder Taggar top-scored for Bundoora with 21 a piece.
Udhara Hewa Wellalage and Supun Passikku Hannadige took three wickets each for the Wolves.
In reply, the Wolves started slowly.
“We were 2-1 and there were a few nervous people in the sheds,” Bubis said. “We were then 2-105 and it was easy from there.”
Wolves skipper Jason Berthet (69 not out) and Shaun Barker (42) led the way in their side’s 3-128.
Bubis, the club’s former captain-coach, said Berthet had really taken to being captain.
“He’s in the seven top scorers in the competition and is averaging over 60,” he said.
“He was bit shaky at the start of the season but the captaincy has done him well.”
In a season with a new coach and captain, Bubis said the Wolves were on the right track.
“We lost the first couple of games but have been competitive since then,” he said.
“If we’d won those two games, which we should have, we’d be third on the ladder.
“We have a couple of young guys coming into the side. Hopefully they can replace me next season or the year after and I can retire.”
THE Wolves are holding a Pink Stumps ladies day to raise money for the McGrath Foundation on January 31. They have raised more than $5000 for the fight against breast cancer in the the last four years.
More details: http://oldparadiansstfranciscc.vic.cricket.com.au
