It’s been an up and down year for Plenty Valley in the Women’s Victoria Premier Cricket season, but with a bye this week, finals remain on the cards.
The Bats currently sit in sixth position just a win behind Parahan in fourth, setting up two massive clashes to finish the home and away season.
This weekend, the Bats face the bottom placed team Dandenong, before facing second on the ladder Box Hill in the final round.
Bats’ head of women’s cricket Brett Cole said not finishing games strongly has been what has let the side down this season.
“We’ve been in good positions in games this year just unfortunately haven’t been able to finish it off,” he said.
“Having Jas Nevins out doesn’t help when she heads interstate with Victoria. She’s not the be-all and end-all but it certainly disrupts the batting structure that’s for sure.
“We’re only two points out of the four, we have a bye this week, so if a couple of games go our way and we come back and win the next two then we will be playing finals which is what we have tried to achieve this year.
“We’ve been competitive in most games, there’s only been one game where we really got knocked off badly.”
Nevins has played just five of the one day matches for the Bats this season, averaging 69 in her four innings.
When she wasn’t playing for the Bats she has been travelling around as part of Victoria’s Women’s National Cricket League squad. However, Nevins is set to return for the Bats final two matches and finals should they make it.
Nevins missing in games has meant the Bats have been able to play some of their young talent that may not have gotten that opportunity.
“But we’ve been able to blood some youngsters into the first XI which has been good,” Cole said.
“They’ve been getting some good experience with our senior players.
“They’re all under 18 as well so it’ll hold us in good stead for the future.”
Cole said seeing Bats’ player Tayla Vlaeminck make her return to the Victorian side was fantastic.
The injury riddled fast bowler played her first game for the state since December 2021.
“It was awesome to see, we were so wrapped for her but we know that we probably won’t get her this season because Cricket Australia keeps her under wraps,” he said.
“It would be nice for one game but we aren’t holding our breath.
“It was awesome to see her bowl and take a wicket, it’s been a hard road for her, that’s for sure the poor thing.”
