Cricket is a game of fractions - results can come down to single moments or crucial overs, and sometimes even a few balls can be the difference between a win and a loss.

And so it was on Saturday, when despite a spirited effort with bat and ball, City Colts' A grade team was unable to defend its 161 total, with Beechworth reaching the total with its final wicket off the second-last ball of the day.

Batting first, the Colts’ top order all got starts, but it would be Aaron Thrum who would lead the way with the willow, hammering 45 from 53 balls batting at first drop.

The middle order faltered, as Beechworth picked up quick wickets to have the Colts 7/98.

Max Marek (33 of 51) and Archie Crispin (26* from 38) provided some valuable tail-order runs to post a competitive 9/161 from their 45 overs.

Beechworth’s Jon Carson was the pick of the bowlers, taking 4/28 from his nine overs, while Matt Ryan was influential with his 2/40.

Colts’ captain Kent Braden said it was a brilliant fightback in the latter half of the innings.

“We started really well, we were two down at the drinks break for about 70 which was our aim,” he said.

“We lost our way a little bit, a few quick wickets, but fought really well with the bat to get to that 160 mark, which we thought would be pretty competitive.

“Aaron’s got two 40-odds this year, number three’s suiting him, and Max’s had a really good year with the bat

“That’s the thing with the group, they’re all capable, they’ve all batted in the top six in their junior cricket – even if we do lose a few quick wickets, we know everyone can play a role down the order.

“We lost our way in that middle patch, which didn’t help, we probably left 20 or 30 out there, 180 would’ve been a good score.

“We missed a few quick singles here and there but all in all, we batted our 45 again, so you can’t ask for much more than that.”

With the runs on the board and with the bowling stocks to defend it, Colts got stuck into the innings early, with Jed Marek dismissing Clancy Ellett for a duck off the second legal delivery of the chase.

Beechworth’s Will Prebble, Cam Fendyk and Brenton Surrey all failed to pass 20, as Alasdair Brett and Archie Crispin wreaked havoc.

From 5/79, Beechworth kept plodding along, making the runs but losing wickets regularly, with a result looking more and more like a squeaker.

A double-wicket maiden in the 44th over meant Beechworth were on 9/150, needing 12 off the final over.

Jed Marek had ball in hand to finish off the innings, but Beechworth found a single, a two, then back-to-back boundaries to square the game up.

Scores were level, but Marek bowled a no ball, putting Beechworth over the top with two balls to spare.

“They knocked it into the gaps, they ran hard, they hit it to fielders and took off as Beechworth do, and we missed a few run outs which probably cost us in the end,” Braden said.

“All credit to them, when you get Brenton [Surrey], Cam Fendyk and Matty Ryan for not many runs, you probably think you’re in the game, but their lower order hung around and got the job done for them.”

While the Colts have only the solitary win in the on-day format so far, Braden said the team was developing well, a sure sign for the future of the side.

“Outside of the Rovers game, we’ve been competitive in all of them which, for this young group and where we’re heading, it’s fantastic,” he said.

“It’s not about wins and losses, it’s about development.

“Hopefully they can have long A grade careers, that’s what we’re after.”

In other A grade matches, Ovens Valley took a 77-run win over Yarrawonga Mulwala at Stan Hargreaves Oval.