Greenvale Kangaroos felt the absence of star all-rounder Daniel Salpietro as their run chase against Melbourne Uni fell 44 runs short on Saturday.
Chasing the Uni’s 204, Greenvale was out for 160 at University Main Oval.
Previous prolific scorers Eric Ghasperidis (6) and James Lidgett (12) both fell cheaply as four quick wickets had the Kangaroos reeling at 6-74.
Ramneet Dhindsa (25) and Dominic Reed (23) pushed the score to triple figures, but the tail could not produce a miracle as Greenvale was out by the 54th over.
The Kangaroos return to Greenvale Recreation Reserve to host ladder leader Footscray-Edgewater in a same-weekend two-dayer starting on Saturday.
Greenvale’s Victorian Turf Cricket Association team was able to beat both the weather and Yarraville Club in a senior division match shortened to 26 overs each.
Yarraville Club made 9-55 batting first before Greenvale won comfortably with 3-121 in reply.
Chithaka Jayasinghe (3-10) was best of the Greenvale bowlers and then hit 33 as top scorer in the chase.
In VTCA north division, Westmeadows won the all-Hume battle against Tullamarine. Tulla scored 9-139 before the Warriors made 6-155 in reply.
In north A1, Craigieburn struggled in its shortened game against Werribee Centrals, making 8-68.
The Eagles made a decent fist of defending the score, but Werribee Centrals reached the end of their allotted 35 overs with 9-123 in reply. Anthony Peterson (3-16) was best of the Craigieburn bowlers.
