The Victorian Turf Cricket Association north-west A1 grand final between Westmeadows and St Francis de Sales is evenly poised after the first weekend of play.
Both sides would like their chances heading into the second weekend, with a first innings lead vital in a game which could end up going into the second innings.
The Warriors made 181 and at stumps on day two of the four-day match, St Francis de Sales is 6-122.
Warriors captain-coach Tarek Moughanie said he would rather be in their position after the first weekend.
“We need four wickets and they need 60 runs, I’d say it’s pretty evenly poised,” he said.
“It’s been a good game, an intense game.
“They have a couple of guys at the crease who are capable.
“I’d prefer to be us, but one partnership for them could win them the game.”
Moughanie said they didn’t bat well as a team and would have been happier if they could have scored at least another 20 runs to give them a bit more space.
There was a couple of exceptions, mainly Danny Law, who finished 70 not out.
“It would have been nice to make 200,” Moughanie said. “Danny was fantastic. It was the most determined innings he has played.
“He came in at the eighth over and was there at the end. That’s 96 overs he batted and he was great and helped build the total.
“Clay [Campbell] was good support.”
The Warriors started well with the ball and had St Francis 3-43, with Chinthaka Jayasinghe having claimed the key wicket of Aaron Maynard for a duck.
The Warriors shared the wickets around, with Jayasinghe and Aaron Evans taking two wickets each.
In a blow for the Warriors, Jayasinghe hurt his shoulder and probably won’t bowl again in the match after not being able to complete his last over.
“We need to get four wickets as quickly as possible and hopefully get first innings points,” he said. “Then we want to try and bat well in the second innings and hopefully consolidate a lead. It will be a tough finish.”
In other VTCA grand finals, Doutta Stars and Yarraville Club are also evenly poised in the senior division.
The Stars made 222, with the Clubbers 6-155 after day two.
In the north-west division, Haig Fawkner spent most of the first weekend of play at the crease, making 8-413. Sunshine United is 0-25.
In north A1, Sunshine has already claimed first innings points against Moonee Valley. Sunshine made 178, before bowling Moonee Valley out for 124. Sunshine is 3-65 in its second innings.
