Noble so close to an upset

NOBLE Park came close to knocking off Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association leaders Melton on Saturday at Pat Wright Senior Oval.
Chasing 7/232 the home side fell 18 runs short, making that their second loss for the season.
After sending Melton into bat, the visitors got off to a dream start piling on a 98-run opening stand, followed by an 89 first wicket partnership. At 2/187 Melton were in the box seat and were primed for a big total.
A late fightback by Noble Park curbed a potentially 250-run plus run chase as they took 5-30 in the dying stages of Melton’s innings.
Rizan Mawzoon was the pick of the bowlers with 3/51 (9) and consistent all-rounder Marasinghe Perera claimed a tidy 2/27(9).
Set 233 for the win, Noble Park lost two early wickets (2/36), but steadied with a 69-run partnership for the third wicket, taking the score to 105. Perera’s 62(68) and Vijay Maharaj’s 68 not out(59) got the home side close to a victory, but had little support from the middle and lower order and eventually ran out of overs, finishing 8/214 (45).
Marasinghe Perera continued his solid season with bat and ball and made 239 runs from six hits – including three half-centuries from his past three games – and claimed 14 wickets, with a best of 4/14(9).
Noble Park will play host to fifth-placed Williamstown at Pat Wright Senior Oval this Saturday in a two-day match.