Sub-District cricket: Brendan King leads Box Hill to thrilling victory over Noble Park

Noble Park had the chance to go to third on the Sub-District ladder but a three-run loss to Box Hill was a hit to its hopes of a home final.

Noble Park rallied through its last two wickets but fell fractionally short of victory in a tight, tense VSDCA clash with Box Hill at the Pat Wright Senior Oval on Saturday.

Play started 50 minutes late owing to rain and was held up again by wet weather about an hour later.

ARCHIE FLYNN'S GOLDEN SUMMER

CRICKETERS REFLECT ON PLAYING ON BLACK SATURDAY

SPECTATOR BANNED AFTER OFF-FIELD VERBAL STOUSH

The Parkers picked up at 3-42 chasing 148, with in-form skipper Luke Wintle looming as a key player.

Rob Ewen (8), Robbie Johnston (1) and day-one star Nilo Perera (0) fell cheaply, and when

Noble Park’s Paul Hill clips through the on-side against Box Hill.

Wintle clipped a ball behind square and was caught for 43 (off 140 deliveries, with 5 fours), the hosts were 7-96.

That became 8-107 when Anthony Salomon (7) departed.

But experienced pair Paul Hill and Kalhath lippuli Arachige carried Noble Park forward.

After a fighting 27 Hill was given out caught behind off spinner Muhammad Saeed, leaving the Parkers 9-127.

They inched forward through lippuli Arachige and Andy Berman, and when the score reached 145 they were a boundary hit shy of victory.

Then it was all over, lippuli Arachige run out when he set off for a single and was sent back.

He was beaten by Box Hill skipper Michael Vozzo’s throw to wickie Brodie Eccles.

It was a costly loss for Noble Park: it could have jumped to third given that Plenty Valley was beaten.

Box Hill, sixth on the ladder, bowled with discipline and was sharp in the field.

Paceman Brendan King was outstanding with 5-38 off 22.4 overs — he’s now up to 20 wickets for the season — and Saeed captured 3-33 off 28 overs.

The visitors were also thankful for surprise-package recruit Somil Bandi’s 65 on day one.

Timber: Nilo Perera has his off-stump tilted back.