ALTONA'S star-studded batting line-up is ducking for cover after failing to fire a shot against Melton in the grand final of the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association's north-west group on Saturday.

The top six in the batting line-up - John Varchione, Tiom Collins, Adam Brown, Liam Johnson, David Wolfe and Gordon MacFarlane - all enjoyed solid starts to reach double figures, but no one got to 50.

MacFarlane top-scored with 46 at No.6 and Collins got 31 after opening.

The A's didn't helped themselves, either.

Captain-coach Wolfe was inexplicably run out attempting a third run.

The hard-hitting left-hander was looking set for a big score.

Incredibly, all-rounder Glenn Sullivan was run out on the next ball.

It wasn't good enough as Altona crumbled to be fired out for 172 which simply wasn't enough.

The Lions replied with 4-173 to cruise to victory, despite the efforts of medium-pacers Collins with 2-14 from 11.2 overs and MacFarlane with 1-15 from 15 overs.

In a major controversy, the A's were shocked to find the gound's grass cut when play resumed on Sunday.

Club president Neil Birthisel was expected to send in a letter of complaint to VSDCA officials. But Birthisel conceded Altona had been outplayed.

"We've only got ourselves to blame," he said.

"We batted poorly on the first day.

"We had the best of the conditions, let's be honest. They won it fair and square. Congratulations to Melton."

Birthisel doffed his cap to the A's. "I'm proud of the boys. They've done a great job," he said.

"It was a great season."

It's a tough time at Altona with players left to lick their wounds after crashing in the group final for the second time in the past three seasons.

They were outplayed by eventual VSDCA championship winners Williamstown in the group final at Kirk Reserve in 2006-07.

Wolfe is expected to stand down as captain-coach after four seasons in the job.