Tara Murray
Westmeadows is happy, but not satisfied, with its start to the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division season.
In the top grade for the first time, the Warriors sit 2-1 after three rounds, having beaten Keilor and Yarraville Club.
The team sits sixth, equal on points with four teams above them. Only top-placed Sunshine United is undefeated.
Warriors captain-coach Tarek Moughanie said things were heading in the right direction.
“It’s good to be on the positive side of the register,” he said.
“We were really disappointed to lose the first game of the year and there could be ramifications that could come back to bite us later in the season.
“But I think our best cricket is coming after Christmas. There’s strong signs and we’re heading in the right direction.”
Moughanie was pleased with the victory against Yarraville Club, which made last season’s grand final.
While the Clubbers don’t have as strong a team as in the past, they still have some quality players.
“It was the best we’ve bowled all year,” Moughanie said.
“Chinthaka Jayasinghe and Danny put on over 100 at the top which went a long way to setting it up nicely.”
Moughanie said it had been pleasing to see a number of different players step up and play their roles when needed.
He had hoped that some of the younger players would rise to the higher level and the likes of Clayton Campbell and Aaron Evans had done that so far. He expects them to continue to do so.
“It’s good to see different players stand up each week,” he said.
“Our fielding has mostly been pretty good.”
Moughanie said the biggest challenge for his side was learning to become a better one-day bowling side.
“The key is how to play one-day cricket,” he said “We have a lot of aggressive players.
“From a bowling perspective, that is the area we will improve the most in. We are better bowling as a two-day team, it’s about learning to curb when to have that aggressive nature.
“When we get there, we’ll certainly climb the ladder.”
Moughanie said they were happy with the batting line-up and said their top six is one of the strongest in the competition.
He said they have more to give with the batting. They had lost late wickets in both their wins, with the victory in sight, while himself and recruit Malith Cooray are yet to fire a shot with the bat.
Both made runs this week in other competitions, giving them a chance to spend some time in the middle and they will be hoping to convert that form into the one-day competition,
The Warriors played St Albans at the weekend.
