Roxburgh Park-Broadmeadows is buoyant after day one of the Sub-District cricket clash with Altona on Saturday.
The Falcons are eighth on the ladder with three days of cricket left in the regular season but are well placed for a spot in the top six.
Away to fifth-placed Altona, RPB was asked to field first and struck immediately.
First Mitch Streiff had Matthew Davis caught behind for two and when Patrick Matautaava bowled Tim Collins for a duck, Altona was dangling at 2/2.
The experience of first drop Aaron Maynard and Altona skipper Shane Jones meant the A’s steadied the ship and reach 47 before Bryce Preston got the breakthrough by having in-form Maynard – 605 runs this season at 67.2 – caught behind for 26.
Jones followed for 30, caught and bowled by Falcons captain Mitch Johnstone.
By mid-afternoon Roxburgh Park was well on top, with Altona on 7/105. But a defiant 44 from Lee Elmore, 20 not out from Trent Smith and 10 for Andrew McCammond, got Altona to 180.
Preston finished with four wickets, and the Falcons faced two overs for no loss and one run before stumps.
Falcons president Ben Wood said the players were all smiles.
“We’re feeling very buoyant because this is essentially a final for us,” he said.
“It was frustrating we couldn’t wrap it up sooner but they batted well towards the end and I think fatigue kicked in for us. But we would have taken 180 at the start of the day.
“We have serious finals aspirations so we should make 180 and get a spot in the top six.”
Should the Falcons make the finals, the other five teams will be nervous. Although batting has let them down at times this season, Roxburgh Park has three bowlers in the top 15, Matauaava with 31 wickets 11, Streiff 27 at 12 and Johnstone 24 at 16.
“I believe bowling wins finals,” Wood said. “We’re confident that if we get into the finals we can inflict a bit of damage. Our bowling is arguably the best in the competition.”
