Tara Murray
Taylors Lakes is hoping to finish the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association east-west season on a high.
After a tough season which had resulted in just two wins heading into the second last round, the Lions are sitting second bottom.
Lions coach Alex Deuchar said the season hadn’t been what they would have liked heading into the year.
“The ones and twos won’t play finals, but the threes and fours are pretty well placed and hopefully have a bit of cricket left,” he said.
“We would have hoped the other two grades would have gone a bit better. The twos started well but we’ve had persistent changes in the first XI and had to pull guys out for the second XI which is not ideal.
“Injuries and unavailability’s, there have been a few more this year.”
Deuchar said on paper they thought they had a really strong squad but they hadn’t been able to put their best team on the park.
He said with players missing games had meant that they didn’t have the right balance of the side in several games.
“The list we had at the start of the year has not played together for the whole season,” he said.
“We’ve also gone back to red ball cricket which we haven’t played for quite some time.”
Deuchar said they had been unlucky in a couple of games including against Werribee, which just snuck home.
He said consistency was lacking at times. He said while their batting was still the main area of concern, it had improved on last season.
“Our batting has improved significantly,” he said. “We’ve had some bigger scores and more contributions in games.
“When the guys have been getting runs, not one else has gone with them to finish off the game.”
Deuchar said while the results haven’t been what they wanted there had been some real positive personal growth.
Dylan Payne played well in the second XI and after being promoted, has looked at home in the first XI.
Ethan Brne has taken the opportunity to make the wicketkeeping role his own, while Austin Young has also put in some good performances.
Aamir Raza leads the competition for wickets taken, having shone with the white ball.
The Lions struggled against Williamstown on Saturday.
The Seagulls made 7-260 from their overs, with the Seagulls bowled out for 132.
Deuchar said the Seagulls score was about par on the pitch.
The Lions finish their season this Saturday with a one-dayer against Yarraville.
