By Tara Murray
Westmeadows’ finals hopes are in its own hands heading into the final round of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association Tony Isaacs Shield division 1.
Victory against Craigieburn on Saturday would have all but sealed a finals spot for the Warriors, but they blew it with a bad batting performance on day one.
The Warriors made only 145 and the Eagles resumed at 1-9.
The Eagles didn’t have much trouble in getting the runs, finishing 4-146.
Warriors coach Tarek Moughanie said his charges didn’t play great cricket.
“I probably made the wrong decision at the toss,” he said. “We didn’t bat as well as we should have last week – we should have made 200.
“It was tough to defend 140. Credit to them – they did a good job.”
With not many runs to defend, the Warriors needed everything to go their way on Saturday, but it wasn’t to be.
Photo Gallery: Craigieburn vs Westmeadows
Moughanie said that had a couple of missed gone their way, more pressure would have been put on the Eagles.
“When you’ve only got 140 on the board you need the 50-50s to go your way,” he said. “Defending that score you need to go away from your plans and focus on taking wickets more.”
Bageshwar Bisht top-scored for the Eagles with 37, while it was all single wicket takers for the Warriors.
The loss means the Warriors haven’t had a win in three rounds and enter the final round of the season out of form.
Moughanie said he was confident his players could turn their form around.
A win against Royal Park Brunswick would be enough to seal a finals spot.
“You have to bat for 80 overs and we didn’t do that,” he said of the Craigieburn match.
“If we bat the whole 80 overs with our batting line-up, I don’t think anyone can beat us,” he said. “It’s all about the mindset and adjusting that to get back on track.”
Moughanie said that if they don’t get the win in the final round, that they don’t deserve to play finals.
It’s not all bad news for the Warriors, with the side through to a second straight North West Metropolitan Cricket Association T20 grand final.
The Warriors won after a bowl-off against Tarneit Central.
Moughanie said he had never seen anything like it.
“It was interesting,” he said “It was like a soccer penalty shoot-out with both sides huddled at mid-wicket and mid-on.
“Both groups were cheering when their teams hit the stumps.
“We were down 0-1 and then won 2-1. It makes the whole week better when you get the win.”
The Warriors will face Jacana in the grand final.
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