There’s plenty of positive signs for the Plenty Valley women’s Premier Cricket side.
The Bats sit on the bottom of the table without a win after seven rounds but captain Kirsty Lamb says it isn’t all doom and gloom.
“Each week there’s positives to take out of the games,” Lamb said.
“The biggest problem is not putting all three parts of the game together as a collective.”
The Bats have been making their biggest improvements in the batting department.
“Most weeks we are making a score,” Lamb said. “We have worked hard on not losing early wickets like we have in recent years.
“Now it’s about the lack of partnerships towards the end of the innings.”
Lamb says the bowling hasn’t been as bad as it looks, despite taking only 13 wickets in six games.
“We haven’t been able to break partnerships,” she said. “We are creating lots of chances with the ball but not taking them.
“There’s been some really good days from the bowlers but we’re not working hard enough in the field and backing them up.”
Lamb is in her second year as captain and the Victorian representative is relishing it.
“I enjoy the captaincy,” she said. “The captaincy makes me think about everyone else and what has to happen next in the game.
“We are still building and trying to develop. Last game I had two 14-year-olds and two 17-year-olds in the team.”
Lamb said the team had benefited from the experience of English players Danni Wyatt and Lara Crofts.
“It has been massive and they are both very talented and help give us an extra edge,” she said. “They bring quality to training and help giving knowledge to the younger girls.
“They set the tone … everyone can see what it is like to play cricket professionally.”
The Bats endured a disappointing result on Sunday, with Box Hill easily winning.
Missing Lamb and Wyatt, who were playing for the Victorian team, the Bats made a measly 8-58 off their 20 overs on a difficult pitch. Kiara Jones top-scored with 13.
In reply, Box Hill reached the target with nine wickets and nearly seven overs to spare.
The Bats’ men didn’t take to the field as their sub-district match against Ivanhoe didn’t go ahead due to a wet pitch and field.
The teams will play a one-day match this Saturday.
