Westmeadows is hoping the club will break its first XI premiership drought over the next two weekends.
The Warriors’ first XI hasn’t won a premiership since 2005-06.
They are heading into Victorian Turf Cricket Association north-west A1 grand final with a real good chance to grab the flag.
The Warriors, the form team of the competition in the final rounds, were again in fine fettle against Altona Roosters in their semi-final at the weekend.
Sent in, the Warriors didn’t get off the best start and were in trouble at 3-32.
At that stage, said Warriors captain-coach Tarek Moughanie, they were a little concerned.
“There was a bit in the wicket with a bit of grass on it,” he said.
“I thought if we can get 150, we would be in for a good show.”
Chinthaka Jayasinghe and Clayton Campbell settled the innings as the Warriors pushed on to 254.
Jayasinghe made 90 and Campbell 73.
Moughanie said they were match-winning innings.
“CJ batted beautifully – it was a master class in batting,” he said. “He looked like he was a couple of grades above us. He’s a proven finals performer.
“Clay had a tough innings last week and Saturday was another hard-fought knock.”
Picture Damian Visentini
The Warriors started well with the ball and had the Roosters in trouble at 4-50.
Moughanie said the key was to break the partnership between Roosters skipper Ashleigh Peters and Tharanga Indika.
“We thought that was the key partnership and their last chance,” he said.
“If we could get them out, we could then finish them off.
“It was a real team effort with the ball and backed up in the field. We only missed one chance.”
Once those two wickets fell, the Warriors wrapped up the innings quickly, bowling the Roosters out for 94.
Four bowlers took two wickets each.
For the Warriors, the job isn’t done, with a premiership firmly in their sights.
They face St Francis De Sales in the grand final.
Moughanie knows it won’t be an easy task.
“They have won the most games this season and only lost one game and that came against us,” he said.
“They’ve been the benchmark for most of the season and are an experienced team … it will be really tough.
“If we play to our ability, we think that we can beat anyone.”
