Last wicket heroics save the day for Melbourne University: Victorian Premier League Cricket round 6.

A dogged half-century and last wicket heroics saved Melbourne University from defeat to the winless Hawthorn Monash in  round six of the Victorian Premier Cricket League. Chasing 201 for victory and resuming at three for 78 it wasn't long  before the Melbourne Uni found themselves with their backs to the classroom wall.

Hawk's pacemen Simon Black and Tom Collett charged through the top-order and before you could open the esky the home-team  had collapsed to be six for 119. Hawthorn were chasing their first points of the season and could sniff victory. Enter  Jarrod Martignago. The determined right-hander ducked, dodged and duelled with both Hawks speedsters.

 

 

He combined with Michael Nalesnyik (9) to frustrate the Hawks attack, adding 43 for the seventh wicket before Nalesynik put  one down the throat of Blair off Collett. Spinner Dan o'shea was introduced into the attack and tightened the screws with a  miserly spell of bowling, conceding 27 runs off 22 overs, chipping in with the wickets of Fawad Ahmed (7) and Martignago caught at slip for 60.

When Mark Simpson fell to Collett the score was nine for 178 and the Hawks could taste the beer. However a 37 run final wicket  partnership between Stafford (19) and Kennedy, who remained unbeaten on 17, guided Melbourne Uni home. Their teammates rejoiced as they left the field, high-fiving them at the gates. In contrast the Hawks huddled in the centre of the ground pondering a missed opportunity.

In the end, Hawthorn Monash were probably a seamer short, despite the workhorse efforts from Black 5-69, Collett 3-102 and O'Shea 2-27. With the opposition on the ropes and a healthy partnership still required by the final two, the Hawks should have converted, seems a familiar story from Hawk land this year.