By Tara Murray
Plenty Valley timed its run to perfection, hitting the winning run off the final ball of the day against Caulfield in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association north-south.
Having been in control for a lot of the day, the Bats needed every ball to chase down Caulfield’s total in the one-dayer.
Bats captain Ryan Pearson said it was a massive win for the side.
“To win off the last ball against a good side is really good,” he said.
“They are always up there towards the end, year after year, along with us and Oakleigh.
“It’s good to get a result against them as they are likely to be around the mark again.”
The Bats put in one of their better all-round performances to seal the win.
Caulfield won the toss and decided to bat, making 8-180 from its overs.
Pearson said at AK Line Reserve, that was a total that could be chased down.
“They only got eight fours and one six, they had to work really hard and ran really well,” he said.
“They got a lot of ones, twos and threes and it’s hard to defend on that oval.
PHOTO GALLERY: Plenty Valley vs Caulfield
“I thought we bowled really well and it was our best bowling performance of the year. Getting [Graeme] Rummans and [Jacob] Thorne out cheaply helped us.
“Four and bit runs an over was fairly gettable.”
Daniel Heatley took three wickets but was expensive, going at nearly a run a ball.
Lee Brown and Pearson took two wickets each.
The Bats lost a couple of early wickets before steadying in the middle of the order.
Pearson said they were certainly keeping an eye on the scoreboard.
“Blake [Pearson] through the middle of the order steadied us.
“Vihanga Fernando, who is 15, batted really well, along with [Michael] Rogneda, before Rogneda got run out.
“Lee Brown got us home.”
It was an eventful final over, with the Bats needing six runs to win.
There was a dot ball on the first ball before a no ball levelled up the total.
The Bats ran singles off the remaining balls to seal the win.
Blake Pearson top scored with 59 in his first 50 of the season as the Bats finished 8-181.
The win moves the Bats up to fifth spot, with 12 points separating second and 12th.
Pearson said with the closeness of the competition, every win is vital before Christmas to set up their season.
The Bats this week face Ivanhoe in a two-dayer starting on Saturday.
The game will again be at AK Line Reserve, with Yarrambat Reserve still not ready to host first XI cricket.
“Every game we play the ladder moves around and teams move up spots,” he said. “It’s so tight.”
