Gladstone Park captain-coach Matt Nyhus says he will be mortified if his team fails to make the finals in the North West Metro Cricket Association’s George Luscombe Shield.
All NWMCA matches were abandoned at the weekend because of the league’s extreme heat policy and have been reduced to one-day fixtures this coming Saturday.
Not that it will bother Nyhus in his first year coaching the club . . . Gladstone Park’s opponent this weekend is Strathmore Heights, a team it beat comfortably in a one-day game just two rounds ago.
On that day, Gladstone Park posted 5/205 from its 40 overs and bowled the Heights out for 187 in reply.
“I’d be pretty disappointed if we didn’t make the finals to be honest,” Nyhus told the
Weekly with his team sitting fourth on the table but just two points ahead of fifth.
“And I definitely believe we can win the flag.
“Since Christmas we’ve been playing much more consistent cricket after being a bit up and down earlier in the season.
“In our game against Pascoe Vale, who will be right up there in finals, we reached 4/217 chasing almost 300 and lost 6/22 and that really cost us.”
Gladstone Park will also be buoyed by the return of several players, with weddings having played havoc with their line-up in recent weeks.
John Kulikowski will play his first game since Christmas against Strathmore Heights and will be a handy addition to the top order with scores of 41, 60, 59 and 38 in his past four innings.
In other George Luscombe Shield matches, Pascoe Vale Central and Buckley Park, second and third on the ladder, will do battle in a one-day game this Saturday.
Pascoe Vale is a chance to take top spot from Kealba/Green Gully, which has a bye, while a win for Buckley Park will assure it of finals.
Sydenham/Hillside plays bottom side Clarkefield Brumbies and a win could mean a top-four place if other results in the competition fall its way.
The Vic Kyte Shield will see a top-of-the-table one-day clash this Saturday, with Craigieburn hosting the Northern Lions.
Craigieburn has lost only once this season and wrapped up the minor premiership several weeks ago.
Westmeadows will look for a home final when it chases victory over County West.
DANIEL PAPROTH
