THE Noble Park first XI kept finals hopes alive by defeating Bayswater by 16 runs in Victorian Sub District Cricket Association competition on Saturday.
Defending its 186, Noble Park was quickly on top with a wicket to Damien Fleming and two to Kynan Ford.
From 3/31, a 64-run partnership got Bayswater back in the game but Paul McDonald picked up a wicket just before tea to turn up the heat on Bayswater.
Mark Rendle picked up the next wicket in the 43rd over and Fleming picked up another at the start of his second spell, followed by two more.
At one stage Bayswater lost 3/13.
With 48 runs required by Bayswater and two wickets remaining, the game was in the balance.
Bayswater edged closer to victory before Ford picked up his second wicket and Fleming claimed the last scalp, dismissing Bayswater for 170. Fleming finished with 5/35 off 16 overs.
The second XI lost a close match against Bayswater, which passed the required total of 225 in the second-last over.
David Kennedy (2/29) was best of the bowlers.
The third XI dropped out of the final six after being smashed by Malvern.
Batting first, the side was dismissed for 116, Suresh Demel (54) was the only Noble Park batsman that looked comfortable at the crease.
In reply Malvern reached the score with the loss of only two wickets.
The fourth XI also lost when Bayswater passed its score of 126 with the loss of eight wickets.
Jake D’Atri top-scored with 32 in the side’s innings with support from Mark Jacotine and Asha Ganser.
With the ball Andrew Dennis continued his good form picking up 3/10 off his eight overs.
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