Westmeadows delight in double victory

Sathpath Kamburugamuwa starred with the ball on Sunday. Picture Shawn Smits.

Westmeadows was a side in a hurry over the past two weekends in Victorian Turf Cricket Association north-west A1.

Looking to entrench their position in the upper echelons of the ladder, the Warriors have grabbed two big results to move to the top.

Warriors coach Tarek Moughanie said it was a huge weekend for the club.

“We wanted to have a good win against Footscray United and then win the second game and consolidate a top-two spot,” he said.

He said the club wouldn’t read too much into the second game, a one-dayer against St Francis de Sales, but would benefit greatly from the extra points.

“We got 17 points yesterday and 10 and a half today,” he said.

First up, the Warriors claimed an outright win against Footscray United.

The Warriors set the match up on day one on the back of 152 not out from Moughanie and a solid 69 from Chinthaka Jayasinghe. The bowlers backed them up to have United 8-77 at stumps.

United didn’t last long on day two, bowled out for 116. Dominic Bulcock took three wickets for the Warriors.

Made to follow on, United came close to making the Warriors bat again, but fell just short, bowled out for 155. Clayton Campbell took three wickets.

Moughanie said United got more runs than might have been expected through Westmeadows sticking with attacking fields.

The Warriors then backed it up on Sunday, knocking off the previously unbeaten St Francis de Sales. St Francis was dismissed for 87 on the back of good bowling and strong fielding that included three run-outs.

Sathpath Kamburugamuwa was the stand-out with the ball, taking four early wickets, while Moughanie said two of the younger players Aaron Evans and Clayton Campbell were both starting to hit their straps.

The Warriors hit the winning runs in just 13 overs, with Moughanie and Jayasinghe both getting 50s.

The Warriors made  5-230.

Moughanie said while the club got both wins quite quickly, it did so through playing its normal game style.

“We’ve just trying to play positive cricket,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of good cricketers with natural flare who are playing their natural game.”

The wins move the Warriors about 10 points clear on top of the ladder with two rounds remaining.

Moughanie said making sure they finish in the top two was vital to ensuring a home final.

On Tuesday night the Warriors will play in the North West Metropolitan Cricket Association T20 grand final. The Warriors will host Moonee Valley.