Western Waves needed to win its final pool game against North West Wizards to keep its grand finals chance alive.
WESTERN Waves rued a batting collapse that cost it a shot at the under 16 boys’ state championship yesterday.
The John Houston-coached side needed to win its final pool game against North West Wizards to keep its grand finals chance alive.
It lost its 50-over match by 53 runs and the best it can now finish is ninth.
Chasing the Wizards’ 8-232, the Waves started in blistering fashion.
Western Waves were 1-99 on the back of a second-wicket stand between Hamilton’s Tim Goodman (44) and Mount Gambier’s Jake Blackwell (48).
When those two departed, Waves’ wickets fell regularly.
Only West Wimmera’s Darcy Preston showed any resistance, with the middle order bat making 44.
The Waves were all out for 179.
Houston said the Waves backed themselves to snare their second win of the state championships after their strong start with the bat before their run chase went pear-shaped.
“It was game on and we self-destructed and lost four cheap disappointing wickets,” he said.
“There was no real purpose to it and it put us behind the eight-ball.
“We rotated the strike well and run between wickets but we didn’t take on the spinners.”
Houston said the Waves’ bowlers responded following an under-whelming performance against Western Spirit in a Twenty20 match on Monday.
The Waves finished third in their pool of four.
Houston said ninth overall was the best the Waves could finish.
“It’s disappointing now but the boys are doing their best,” he said.
Western Waves’ under 14 boys snared their first win of the championships, defeating North West Wizards by two wickets.
The Wizards were defending 8-148.
Western Waves snuck home on the second last ball of their innings, with Mount Gambier’s Jackson Lock hitting a three to secure the win.
Lock (47 not out) and Liam Brown (44) were the Waves’ best performers with the bat.
Waves under 14 coach Gordon McLeod said the game was a cliff-hanger.
“The boys are very happy, they worked hard,” he said.
“They got a bit of a roast yesterday about their performance but they responded fantastically today.”
Meanwhile, Warrnambool Gold won one of its two Portland Under 13 Country Week games yesterday.
It lost to Mount Gambier by one wicket, with the South Australians getting the one run they required to win on the final ball of the game, and defeated South West by 61 runs.
Mitch Bidmade (28 retired) Tom Jackson (32 retired), Nick Robertson (21 retired) and Dominic Bandara (18 retired) spearheaded Warrnambool Gold’s batting against South West.
Warrnambool Gold made 1-143 in that game.
Warrnambool Blue tied with Hamilton Gold and defeated Wimmera-Mallee by 30 runs in its two games yesterday.
Grassmere defeated Portland by three wickets and tied with Hamilton Gold in its second match.
Hamilton Gold was all out for 83 with Grassmere 7-83 in reply.
“The last ball was a play and a miss and it went to the keeper and we ran,” Grassmere coach Corey Sinnott said.
“The keeper missed the stumps with the throw. It was great.”
justine.mc@fairfaxmedia.com.au
