Wyndhamvale is striving for consistency as it enters the second half of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association north-west B1 season.
The eighth-placed Falcons have been unsettled by injury and unavailability, leading to a roller coaster ride of results and performances.
Falcons fast bowler Ryan Radford describes the first half of his side’s season as “up and down”.
“We didn’t have much consistency with the playing group,” he said.
“We had a lot of injuries, blokes away and a few new blokes in, as well.
“We had a couple of good results and a couple of poor results. The ladder shows exactly where we are.”
While closer to the relegation zone than the top four, Wyndhamvale has not given up hope of figuring in finals.
The Falcons showed some promising signs before the break – and they hope to continue that form into the new year.
“Anything can happen,” Radford said. “We’re always striving to make finals until it’s not possible and that’s our plan.”
Just like all other games in the division, the first day of Wyndhamvale’s two-day battle with Newport-Digman at Wyndhamvale Reserve was ruined by rain.
Only 14 overs were able to be played before the rain set in, with Newport-Digman 0-25 when play was abandoned.
With both sides sitting outside the top four, the captains have decided to chase an outcome in the match with a draw fairly useless for both teams.
When play resumes on day two, Newport-Digman will bat for another 33 overs before sending Wyndhamvale in for the remaining 47.
“We’ve agreed to play a 47-over game,” Radford said. “It’s just so we can get a result. A draw is not going to do either team any good.
“We want to try and get a win … you play cricket for results and not draws.”
Wyndhamvale will back its bowlers
to restrict Newport-Digman batsmen to a gettable score.
Jay Dolliver (16 wickets at 13.38) and Wade Kirkwood (15 at 11.33) – both top five bowlers in the competition – will be called on to produce their very best.
“Our bowling has been reasonably good all year,” Radford said.
“As with the last few years, we’ve struggled a bit with the bat.
“Making runs is what we’re focusing on … in the last few games we’ve been a bit better,
so hopefully we’re starting to improve as a
team and we can put a few more runs on the board.
“The next three weekends are pretty big because we’ve got to finish of this game, a two-dayer and a one-dayer.
“After that we’ll know if we’re still a chance to make finals.”
