The fifth-placed Meerkats will chase fourth-placed Purnim’s 255 in Grassmere Cricket Association’s second-last home-and-away round today. Lenehan said it was imperative the one-day premier found form with the bat before its season slipped away.

“It’s a fairly big score. It’s basically an elimination final for us,” he said.  “After we won the one-day final we haven’t played consistent cricket at all and we find ourselves in a position we didn’t want.

“We dropped a game to Wangoom which hurt us and they played good.”

Lenehan said Grassmere’s top order — including himself — knew the importance of getting off to a solid start today.

“The top order hasn’t fired in two-day cricket and we have all been a bit unsettled with the side,” he said. “We have had a lot in and out. We have had eight or nine consistent players all year and have struggled for numbers after that.”

Lenehan said the Meerkats were capable of chasing the score if they batted sensibly.

“It (the Purnim ground) is quick enough if you get the ball through the field,” he said.

“We have to apply ourselves and bat the 70 overs.”

In other round 14 matches, Killarney will resume at 1-47 chasing Panmure’s 209 in its top-four clash, Mailors Flat faces the daunting task of trying to reel in Wangoom’s mammoth 9-492 and Hawkesdale will try and defend 170 against Yambuk.

justine.mc@fairfaxmedia.com.au