Four wickets to probing off-spinner Corey Day put Romsey well on top of Macedon in their McIntyre Cup clash at Tony Clarke Reserve, but the Cats staged a determined fight back via a sixth-wicket stand of 70 runs.
Chasing 7/165 c.c for victory from 45 overs, Romsey never got on top and Macedon grabbed the last four wickets for the addition of just nine runs to remain unbeaten after three rounds.
Captain-coach Ben Way was unable to play, and the Redbacks collapsed late after acting captain Chris Burkett was dismissed for the top score of 38. Matt Milne 28 and Tom Boyer 24 also looked likely but were dismissed at the wrong time (for Romsey).
The return of talented all-rounder Tim Berzins after a considerable absence was vital for the home side.
Despite lack of sustained practise, Berzins scored an unbeaten 50 with good placements and shared in the recovery along with the talented Cameron Clayton, who made 42 at the right time.
The Cats’ knowledge of the ground helped curtail Romsey’s run flow, and Cadel Howlett struck a vital blow with the new ball by dismissing first round century maker Taylor Stevenson for a ‘duck’.
Macedon’s experienced captain Cam Howlett was very pleased with his side’s performance, following on a courageous victory over Sunbury United in the previous round. On that occasion Howlett made an unbeaten 99 at the right time.
Cadel Howlett finished with 4/25 from 7.1 overs in a big performance.
Macedon can now look at making a realistic push for a finals berth; Romsey will bounce back — the Redbacks are used to being in finals.
ALL THE SCORES
Results of Gisborne District Cricket Association one-day matches on Saturday include:
McIntyre Cup 1sts: Woodend 9/191 c.c. lost to Sunbury United 4/193, Macedon 7/165 c.c. d Romsey 146, Wallan 177 d Rupertswood 130, Gisborne 5/258 c.c. d Broadford 114.
Johnstone 1sts: Lancefield 8/159 c.c. d Eynesbury 9/125, Eastern Hill 141 d East Sunbury 69, Kilmore 5/180 c.c. lost to Diggers Rest 4/181, Sunbury Kangaroos 6/221 c.c. d Harkness 171.
McIntyre 2nds: Broadford 8/179 c.c. d Gisborne 164, Romsey 215 d Macedon 109, Woodend 8/180 c.c. (Xavier Tadd 96 n.o.) d Sunbury United 6/184.
Johnstone 2nds: Lancefield 153 lost to Eynesbury 3/154, Kilmore 143 lost to Diggers Rest 3/149, Harkness 233 d Sunbury Kangaroos 8/174, Eastern Hill 127 lost to East Sunbury 6/128.
Jensen 2nds: Malmsbury 145 lost to Hanging Rock 2/147, Rupertswood 66 lost to Riddell 0/68, Gisborne 5/226 c.c. d Blackwood 81, Woodend 9/149 c.c. D Trentham 7/153 (James Black 5-27), Macedon 8/139 c.c. lost to Wallan 1/141, Romsey 175 d Sunbury United 126.
Jensen 3rds: Melton 4/211 c.c. d Hanging Rock 144 (R. Mann 100 ret.), Diggers Rest 7/154 c.c. d Kilmore 87, Melton Centrals 6/235 c.c. tied with Rupertswood 9/235, Melton South 8/177 c.c. lost to Riddell 2/181 (Michael Day 102 n/o), Eynesbury 69 lost to Sunbury 3/76.
Club North: Lancefield 32 lost to Hanging Rock 0/34, Kyneton 3/175 c.c. lost to Woodend 7/183, Eastern Hill 127 lost to Wallan 5/129, Malmsbury Gold 3/204 c.c. d Kilmore 6/185,
Malmsbury Green 7/214 c.c. D Gisborne 3/172, Broadford 89 lost to Romsey 1/90.
Club South: Melton 7/169 c.c. D Gisborne 8/112, Woodend 132 d Bacchus Marsh 8/91, Melton South 110 c.c. lost to Melton Centrals 3/114, Sunbury United 3/134 c.c. d Diggers Rest 8/107, Rupertswood 8/128 c.c. lost to East Sunbury 3/132, Eynesbury 6/133 c.c. lost to Sunbury 6/135.
GAMES THIS WEEKEND
Fourth round McIntyre Cup matches in the GDCA this Saturday are:
Gisborne v Macedon.
Romsey v Woodend.
Wallan v Broadford.
Sunbury United v Rupertswood.
