The Meerkats were all out for 138 and limited the Cats to 1-44 after day one of the Grassmere Cricket Association two-day clash at Purnim Recreation Reserve.

Experienced run-maker Murray Habel is the man out, for 15. But Darren Webb (20 not out) and Kyle Buchanan (four not out) survived until stumps. Lenehan conceded the Meerkats’ total was below-par and acknowledged the need to continually take wickets when play resumes today.

“We’ve got to attack, get early wickets and try and have them 5-70. You’ve got to have a lot of damage done before they reach the 100-run mark,” Lenehan said. “If we can tie it up and keep getting wickets, bowl in good areas, we give ourselves a chance ... At risk of losing the game, you’ve got to try and win.”

Lenehan, who has 211 runs and 11 wickets, has been one of the shining lights for Grassmere in what has otherwise been a season to forget.

Inconsistent sides has been the biggest factor in the Meerkats’ 1-7 start, with their only win an eight-wicket triumph against Mailors Flat in round four.

The skipper said victory against Hawkesdale would allow Grassmere “to take something into the new year”. But he was upbeat that improvement was on the horizon.

“We’ve been able to get a few numbers back. We’ve still got the odd player missing here or there. We’ve got to battle on and do what we can do,” he said.

He said the players understood they were “playing for pride” with finals out of the question. 

But success in the GCA Twenty20 tournament is a possibility.

“You’ve got to look at who you’re playing the next week and try and shake up the finals,” he said. 

In other GCA matches, Panmure will resume at 0-24 needing 116 for victory against Yambuk. The Buks were all out for 139.

Killarney has 320 on the board against Wangoom, thanks to Joel Henry’s 101 not out, and will take the ball today.

Purnim is halfway to victory against Mailors Flat at Winslow Recreation Reserve. 

The Bulls are 2-76 chasing The Jets’ 147.