Everything is on the line for the Lalor Stars in the Diamond Valley Cricket Association Money Shield in the remaining two rounds.
The Stars sit second last with two rounds to be decided with the bottom three teams to be relegated as the competition is restructured.
It means the Stars need to beat Montmorency, which sits bottom of the table, in this round if they’re any chance of avoiding relegation.
Greensborough, Penty and Bundoora Park are all within six points of the Stars in the relegation battle, many every run and wicket is important.
Some of those teams are still in the finals battle as well with how close the season is.
Stars coach Wayne Dow said they weren’t where they wanted to be at this time of the season.
The Stars haven’t won a match since November 22 after winning several games early.
“It’s definitely a big match for us,” he said.
“We have been in positions to win games but unable to get over the line in those pressure moments to get a couple more wins.”
On Saturday, Montmorency won the toss and decided to bat in perfect conditions.
It finished with 170 as it was bowled out in the 75th over.
Dow said they would have been happy with that total at the start of the day but it could have been better for them.
“It would have been nice to have got the last couple of wickets a little bit easier,” he said.
“We’re happy to chase 170, it’s a good fast outfield.”
Dow said Montmorency started hitting out late in the innings while they went away from their game plan.
The last wicket pair batted for more than seven overs.
“There was a little bit of both with the last wicket,” Dow said. “We were trying to close it out and get the last wicket.
“They played some good shots, that’s just cricket.”
Mitchell Komen took 5-41 for the Stars while skipper Jordan Steele took 3-31.
The Stars will resume at 0-9 having got through five overs unscathed.
Josh Nixon will resume on one and Sam Skinner on eight not out.
Dow said they were just focusing on getting the win this weekend and let things play out.
“We need to get this win before we start looking at other factors,” he said.
“If we win a couple more games where we were chasing in the 100s with 80 overs we aren’t having this conversation and we’re potentially talking about finals.”
Dow said their second XI was in a good position after day one of its match while the third XI is on track to play finals this season.
