Big haul: Bayswater teenager Luke Turner celebrates a dismissal on his way to taking 10 wickets for the match. Picture: Wayne Hawkins
BAYSWATER has catapulted back into contention for the Victorian Sub District Cricket Association finals with an outright win over Croydon at Croydon Oval on Saturday.
But the Waters had a few nervous overs, collapsing from 0-87 to 8-140 after the Cockies set them 158 from the last 40 overs of the day to take outright points. It was left to Rohan Ervine and Tim Emmett to ensure victory with three balls left.
The outright win took the Waters from 12th place to sixth with captain Sean Flynn challenging his side to win its final three matches and seal a finals position.
The Waters face Plenty Valley (home), Balwyn (away) and Oakleigh (home) to end the season.
"We have to keep winning games to stay in it," Flynn said.
"Plenty Valley is now a big game for us. They are a really strong club who had a good win over Oakleigh last round. We will have to play well."
The win over Croydon was set up by 17-year-old medium fast bowler Luke Turner who took 10 wickets for the match.
Turner got Cockies opener Andrew Hurley out with the first ball of both innings and had match figures of 5-36 and 5-43.
"Turner was the star of the show," Flynn said.
"You don't see someone take 10 wickets too often and I think it's only the fourth time it has happened for Bayswater.
"He has been building up to a big performance like this.
"He hit his length from the first ball of each innings and getting them 1-0 in both innings gave us good momentum."
Flynn said the Waters now had the opportunity to play finals after that prospect looked unlikely heading into the Croydon match.
The Waters host Plenty Valley at Bayswater Oval for a two-day match starting this Saturday at 1pm.
VSDCA LADDER: Oakleigh 51 points, 1.54 per cent; Plenty Valley 45, 1.28; Brunswick 39, 1.09; Box Hill 33, 1.19; Noble Park 33, 1.04; Bayswater 31, 1.07; Preston 30, 1.01; Endeavour Hills 30, 0.81; Coburg 28, 0.76; Balwyn 27, 1.14; Kew CC 27, 1.07; Ivanhoe 24, 0.93; Mt Waverley 15, 0.75; Croydon 15, 0.70.