Tara Murray
Grand United is priming itself for the pointy end of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association McNamara Shield season.
The Gorillas have started to make a habit of putting it all together when it matters most in recent seasons and are hoping they can repeat it again this season.
The Gorillas sit in second spot heading into the second last round with eight wins from their 10 matches.
They are also through to the VTCA T20 competition grand final, having knocked off teams that sit in higher grades in the usual Saturday competition.
Gorillas president Alan Hale said things were going along nicely.
“We made the T20 grand final and we’re really happy about that,” he said. “It’s the first time we’ve made in the grand final in the VTCA competition.
“We try to win every single game and we’ve beaten a few teams in higher grades to get there. There’s one more game to go.
“It’s coming to the pointy end, you want to be hitting your straps. We have the big game in 10 days time with the T20 finals and then approaching finals.
“We have to win two finals to achieve what we set out to do.”
Hale said the experience of the past two seasons would hold them in good stead at this time of the season.
They made the division 3 grand final both seasons, winning it last season against Sunbury.
“We want to be able to play our best cricket in March and we’ve been able to do that the last few years.
“We’ve got a few guys that have won a few flags over the last few years and a few new guys. We want them to experience the Grand United experience as well. We’re looking forward to it.”
The Gorillas mindset heading into the final few rounds is an aggressive one and they showed that on day one of their match with Royal Park Brunswick on Saturday.
The Gorillas declared at 8-251 after 57 overs.
Sachintha Silva top scored with 61 not out.
The Gorillas then had Royal Park in trouble at 2-44 at stumps.
Hale said the way the side batted allowed them the opportunity to bowl late on day one.
“We were in a strong position as we scored early in the innings,” he said. “We went at five or six runs an over for the majority of the innings before the back end slowed down.
“We wanted to play aggressive cricket and it put us on top and we were really positive.
“We wanted to be in a strong position at tea and it opened up the opportunity to do what we did.”
In other matches, Keilor Park is in trouble against ladder leaders, the Altona Roosters.
The Roosters were bowled out for 168 before the Devils crumbled to be 6-60 at stumps.
